Why is this important?
One important measure to lowering our GHG footprint is to gradually phase out routine flaring. Flaring and venting are controlled processes by which greenhouse gases, including methane are released into the atmosphere. These releases have a significant effect on the environment and thus have an impact on OMV Petrom’s environmental performance.
Our commitment
We measure, monitor, or perform mass balance calculations to determine the following:
- Volume of gas flared
- Volume of gas vented
- Hydrocarbon vented
- Hydrocarbon flared
- Routine flaring and venting
- Methane emissions
As claimed by the OMV Group Environmental Management Standard, all oil and gas fields are to be developed in a sustainable manner so that the field’s associated gas is managed without routine flaring and venting. Routine flaring and venting of associated/ free gas as a means of gas disposal to facilitate liquid (oil and condensate) production (this includes Early Production Facilities) is prohibited.
We are using the Leak Detection and Repair (LDAR) program as the basis for developing reduction projects in accordance with best practices in the industry and the best available technologies and we also continue implementing projects to phase out routine flaring and venting.
- Advanced process control in place
- All production audits include flaring and venting checks
Carbon Management trainings which include aspects on flaring and venting are delivered to the relevant functions within the company (HSSE, production, maintenance, operators), though various means including classroom training, workshops or on the job training.
We continued our pipeline integrity program and compressor station modernization (modernization of facilities) and LDAR Program which consists of identification of the leaking components and the implied repairs to minimize losses.
At OMV Petrom, several initiatives to reduce methane emissions, routine venting, and flaring were undertaken and finalized in 2022, many of which focused on upgrading the compressor stations. Within E&P, modernizing, replacing, and/or optimizing gas processing and transportation infrastructure contributed to the reduction of flaring, venting, and fugitive methane emissions. For example, in late 2022, a new gas treatment station for Low Temperature Separation (LTS) at the Icoana compressor station (E&P Valahia asset) was brought on stream. As a result, gas that would normally be flared was made available for sale. Consequently, GHG emissions will be reduced onward due to the elimination of routine flaring. Additional operational measures for optimizing flows and processes in E&P operations, e.g., rerouting gas flows and optimizing turnarounds, also contributed to the significant reduction of venting and flaring volumes.
Leak Detection and Repair (LDAR)
In 2022, we continued to implement leak detection and repair (LDAR) programs to reduce our fugitive emissions.
Important steps have been taken to prevent and mitigate fugitive emissions, such as the pipeline integrity program in E&P and the LDAR program in both E&P and R&M. This program serves as the basis for developing reduction projects in accordance with best practices in the industry and using the best available technologies.
- In late 2021, the non-profit Clean Air Task Force (CATF) measured methane leaks at OMV Petrom sites using a specialized optical gas imaging infrared camera (e.g., FLIR GF320). Following the report, OMV Petrom launched an investigation and immediate action was taken to stop the leaks during 2022. Over the past ten years, OMV Petrom has invested more than EUR 1 bn in modernizing the upstream production infrastructure, including measures to reduce methane emissions. In addition, LDAR programs are routinely run both upstream and downstream to detect, prevent, and eliminate fugitive emissions. We will continue to allocate substantial funds to focusing on the upgrade of our facilities to closed production systems. As a prerequisite for our methane reduction measures, we prioritize monitoring and measuring emissions.
- In 2022, the Methane Emissions Program (Operations CH4llenge) established at OMV Petrom E&P focused on LDAR programs and continued the relevant actions within the Measuring, Reporting, and Verification (MRV) program.
Details on the flaring and venting related projects implemented in 2022 can be found in the Scope 1, Scope 2, Scope 3 section of the report.
The results on flaring and venting for 2022 are presented in the Performance in Detail – Environmental Performance section in this report.
In 2022, the methane intensity was 0.48% (2021: 0.74%).
We will focus on the continuation of our programs:
- Fugitive methane emissions reduction through process optimization, field modernization, and integrity improvement measures in E&P
- Phasing out routine flaring and venting in E&P
- LDAR program
- Continue the relevant actions for Measuring, Reporting and Verification (MRV) program