Agenda

This session will discuss how oil and gas producers can approach energy usage and self-power generation to lower emissions intensity and improve energy efficiency across the value chain from well to end-customer. Historically, energy efficiency projects involved traditional activities such as process optimisation and waste heat recovery. Today, the use of renewable energy and energy storage can also contribute by reducing fuel consumption and emissions associated with power generation. This session will highlight the recent successes in reducing emissions intensity while still achieving production and cost management targets.

This session will discuss new approaches to flare management that enable oil and gas producers to reduce emissions intensity. Whilst the use of flaring for traditional process safety events is an accepted practice, flaring for reservoir preservation and well management face a more challenging future against the ever-tightening expectations of government and communities. Flaring has a two-fold impact in a carbon constrained world - it increases emissions and reduces product available to be sold. When viewed through this lens, there is a strong business case to significantly reduce and/or eliminate flaring. The session will cover current and emerging methods of wells management during downstream shutdowns and how distressed gas or excess gas production could be used more efficiently.

The use of carbon capture utilisation and storage (CCUS) will likely need to be accelerated in order for oil and gas to continue to play a role in the future energy mix. Today, there are currently 18 large-scale carbon capture and storage projects in operation worldwide, storing a total of 40 million tonnes of carbon dioxide per year. The International Energy Agency estimates that by 2040, 2 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide will need to be stored every year to meet global climate goals. The scale of the challenge is huge. This session will discuss the actions required to deliver commercial, large-scale CCUS projects across Australia and Asia Pacific.

Regulation is an essential mechanism to encourage emissions reduction in line with climate science and global commitments such as The Paris Agreement. Regulation can take many forms, from prescriptive license to operate requirements to advanced market-based mechanisms such as emissions trading schemes. 

Many participants in the oil and gas sector are seeking clear, consistent and long-term regulations to increase investment confidence. This is at odds with the current environmental policy where the interpretation of The Paris Agreement through regulations is fragmented and not aligned to the latest climate science.

From market-based incentives that encourage new technology to directly penalising emissions-intensive activities, this session will explore what is in the armoury of policy makers and how they can influence oil and gas operators. Beyond the direct impact on operations, consideration will also be given to regulations impacting downstream customers.

Technologies and approaches to emissions measurement, monitoring and mitigation are rapidly evolving. These new technologies have the potential to also increase safety and enhance operational efficiency. While cost-effective mitigation methods are already being employed across exploration, development and operations, additional monitoring and measurement technologies including advanced sensors coupled with data analytics are now being employed. Furthermore, the use of external monitoring technologies, like drones and satellites equipped to measure emissions, are being deployed by a range of third parties including governments, NGOs and private companies.

This session will discuss both traditional and innovative approaches to measure, monitor and reduce emissions including inspection and repair techniques, proactive maintenance of process equipment and advanced sensing technologies that could revolutionise the detection and monitoring of emissions.