The ERCB has been working with government and industry to promote improvements in energy efficiency and reduction in greenhouse gas emissions in the oil and gas industry. We encourage companies to examine energy efficiency in their own oil and gas operations and promote best practices by sharing information on lessons learned and on successes they have had on improving energy efficiency.
The ERCB has released ST110: Alberta Fuel Gas Efficiency in the Upstream Gas and Conventional Oil Industry (March 2012)
Background
The Fuel Gas Efficiency Steering Committee is chaired by Alberta Energy and was established in April 2006. The committee membership includes industry associations: CAPP, GPAC, SEPAC, and other government organizations which include the ERCB, Alberta Environment and Water, and NRCAN.
This collaboration resulted in the development of 17 best management practices (BMP) to provide practical guidance to operators on reducing fuel gas consumption and improving energy efficiency. These BMPs were released in May 2008 and are available on the CAPP Web site at http://www.capp.ca/library/publications/newFeatured/Pages/FuelGasBestManagement.aspx#ssTkECZ0JP66 .
Alberta Fuel Gas Usage
In 2010 the amount of fuel gas used by the upstream gas and conventional oil industry amounted to approximately 27 million cubic metres per day (1 bcfd). This amount of fuel gas is significant both in terms of dollar value and CO
2
emissions.
Given the large volume of fuel used in the upstream oil and gas industry which has been developed over many decades, there is likely potential in improving fuel gas energy efficiency and reducing fuel gas use. A 10 per cent savings in fuel gas use could amount to savings of approximately 27 thousand cubic metres per day (100 million cubic feet per day). This gas savings is enough to heat more than 300 000 homes. Work in the area of reducing fuel consumption will support and compliment other processes focused on reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Fuel gas consumption in the upstream sector by activity (10
3
m
3
/d)
|
|
2003
|
2004
|
2005
|
2006
|
2007
|
2008
|
2009
|
2010
|
|
Oil batteries
|
2 006.2
|
1 989.9
|
1 934.5
|
1 871.6
|
1 940.3
|
1 945.1
|
1 994.3
|
1 986.9
|
|
Gas batteries
|
3 454.4
|
4 007.1
|
4 389.4
|
4 702.6
|
5 015.4
|
5 079.8
|
4 912.1
|
4 849.6
|
|
Gas gathering systems
|
8 452.2
|
8 792.6
|
9 194.6
|
9 960.5
|
10 113.0
|
10 082.5
|
9 136.1
|
9 033.5
|
|
Gas plants
|
12 356.2
|
12 328.0
|
12 374.7
|
12 371.9
|
12 228.5
|
11 765.3
|
11 342.9
|
11 028.0
|
|
Total
|
26 269.0
|
27 117.6
|
27 893.2
|
28 906.6
|
29 297.2
|
28 872.8
|
27 385.4
|
26 898.1
|
Figure 1. Fuel gas consumption in the upstream sector by activity (10
3
m
3
/d)
Current Work
The committee is working on communicating and monitoring fuel gas efficiency and usage in the Alberta upstream oil and gas industry and examining the success that industry is having in this area. Please see the Terms of Reference. Gas use for oil sands operations is not currently part of this committee's focus, however, it should be noted that insitu, mining, and upgrading operations use significant volumes of natural gas as fuel. Fuel gas use for oil sands (including on-site electrical generation) is similar to amounts used in the upstream oil and gas industry.
Other Resources and Links
ERCB Presentations on Fuel Gas
Alberta Fuel Gas Efficiency in the Upstream Oil and Gas Industry - January 2010
Fuel Gas Efficiency Where We Are Going? - November 2008
Energy Conservation in Alberta - A Regulators Perspective - March 2005
Other Sources of Fuel Gas Statistical Information
Detailed monthly fuel gas information on individual gas plants and gas gathering systems can be found in ERCB publications 13B and 13C
Other Related Links
Climate Change Central http://www.climatechangecentral.com/about-us
Petroleum Technology Alliance http://www.ptac.org/techeetteree.html
Environmental Protection Agency http://www.epa.gov/gasstar/index.html
Alberta Energy http://www.energy.alberta.ca/NaturalGas/1467.asp
Alberta Environment http://environment.alberta.ca/3293.html
Gas Processing Association of Canada http://www.gpacanada.com/education/bestPractices.php
Natural Resources Canada http://www.nrcan.gc.ca/eneene/effeff/index-eng.php
Small Explorers and Producers Association of Canada http://www.sepac.ca/index.php
