BP deploys continuous methane measurement for new major oil and gas projects
- Global programme represents industry first
- Real time data will speed up detection and response to leaks
- Part of technology suite to reduce GHG emissions
BP today announced that it will deploy continuous measurement of methane emissions in its future
BP-operated oil and gas processing projects as part of its ambitious programme to detect, measure
and reduce methane emissions.
Continuous measurement, including instruments such as gas cloud imaging (GCI), will be rolled out to
all new major projects worldwide. The technology has also been tested and installed in existing
facilities such as BP’s giant natural gas Khazzan field in Oman.
It is a key part of BP’s wider and longer-term strategy to deploy a suite of complementary methane
detecting techniques across new and existing facilities. The data generated will help BP identify the
largest opportunities to tackle methane emissions, drive efficiency and develop best practice – and is
ultimately aimed at delivering and improving on BP’s methane intensity target of 0.2% from its
Upstream operations.
Step change in industry practice
The deployment of this technology represents a major step-change in the oil and gas industry’s
approach to detecting, quantifying and reducing methane emissions. Historically, engineering
calculations and emission factors have played an important part in quantifying emissions.
Gordon Birrell, BP’s chief operating officer for production, transformation and carbon, said: “This
programme represents an industry first and reflects our commitment to be a leader in advancing the
energy transition by maximising the benefits of natural gas.
“For gas to play its fullest role in the energy transition, we have to keep it in the pipe. This new
technology will help us do that by detecting methane emissions in real time. The faster and more
accurately we can identify and measure leaks, the better we can respond and, informed by the data
collected, work to prevent them.”
Technology breakthroughs
In addition to continuous methane measurement, BP is also aiming to make use of a network of
complementary technology, including a new generation of drones, hand-held devices and multi-
BP deploys continuous methane measurement for new major oil and gas projects Page | 2
spectral flare combustion cameras – drawing upon scientific breakthroughs made in diverse fields,
spanning healthcare, space exploration and defence.
Morag Watson, BP’s vice president of digital innovation, said: “Many of today’s technological
breakthroughs were only aspirations until recently. Three years ago, we sat in a room and
brainstormed what we would need to achieve continuous measurement, because at the time the
technology portfolio needed was not yet fully developed.
“Now we have the technology and solutions to get after this challenge. Technologies like GCI enable
us to have continuous measurement. Coupled with complementary intermittent tools like drones
equipped with lasers and methane ‘sniffing’ technology we are now creating a step-change in how we
operate our new major projects, so that, inspections that used to take seven days will now be able to
take 30 minutes. That time saving will allow us to continue to innovate and deliver better results.”
Integrated global programme
In time, the data collected will feed information into an extensive digital cloud network as part of a
global integrated approach to reduce both methane and carbon emissions.
Today’s announcement follows BP’s recently announced Upstream Carbon Fund – $100 million of
funding for selected emission reduction projects to deliver new greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions
reductions in BP’s existing Upstream oil and gas operations. By the end of 2018, BP generated 2.5
million tonnes of sustainable GHG emissions reductions throughout its businesses.
Earlier this year, BP confirmed a three-year partnership with the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF),
a New York-based non-profit environmental advocacy group, aimed at developing further
technologies to detect and prevent methane leaks.
BP is also a founding member of the Oil and Gas Climate Initiative, which brings together 13 of the
world’s largest energy companies and has set up a $1 billion investment fund to address methane
emissions and invest in complementary technology, including Carbon Capture, Use and Storage
(CCUS).
BP supports the Methane Guiding Principles, which were developed by a coalition of industry,
institutions, academics and NGOs, to reduce methane emissions across the gas value chain.
BP participates in a number of World Bank flaring reduction initiatives, including the Global Gas
Flaring Reduction Partnership (GGFR), which works to increase the use of natural gas associated
with oil production by helping to remove technical and regulatory barriers to flaring reduction.
It is also a member of the ‘Zero Routine Flaring by 2030′ initiative, which brings together stakeholders
to work together to eliminate routine flaring from operated oil assets by 2030. BP reports progress to
the World Bank each year.
Further information
BP press office, London: +44 (0)20 7496 4076, bppress@bp.com
Cautionary statement
In order to utilize the ‘safe harbor’ provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform
Act of 1995 (the ‘PSLRA’), BP is providing the following cautionary statement. This press release
contains certain forward-looking statements – that is, statements related to future, not past events and
circumstances – which may relate to one or more of the financial conditions, results of operations and
businesses of BP and certain of the plans and objectives of BP with respect to these items. These
statements are generally, but not always, identified by the use of words such as ‘will’, ‘expects’, ‘is
expected to’, ‘aims’, ‘should’, ‘may’, ‘objective’, ‘is likely to’, ‘intends’, ‘believes’, ‘anticipates’, ‘plans’, ‘we
see’ or similar expressions. Actual results may differ from those expressed in such statements,
depending on a variety of factors including the risk factors set forth in our most recent Annual Report
and Form 20-F under “Risk factors” and in any of our more recent public reports.
Our most recent Annual Report and Form 20-F and other period filings are available on our website at
www.bp.com, or can be obtained from the SEC by calling 1-800-SEC-0330 or on its website at
www.sec.gov.