CONSISTENT METHODOLOGY FOR

ESTIMATING GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS

FROM LNG OPERATIONS

Karin Ritter, API

API LNG Guideline Document

Goals

– Develop consistent internationally accepted methodologies to estimate GHG emissions from operations in the Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) value chain

Background

– Initiated as part of API’s contribution to the Cleaner Fossil Energy Task Force of the Asia Pacific Partnership

– Designed to align with other industry guidance, i.e. API Compendium, IPIECA Guidelines

3

LNG Document Overview

The LNG document consists of,

– Description of LNG operations chain

– Methods and emission factors unique to this

industry segment

Emission estimation methods build on the API

Compendium with an expansion to LNG

specific sources and operations

Data reporting consistent with the IPIECA /API

Petroleum Industry Greenhouse Gas

Reporting Guidelines

Document to be publicly available

Document Development Process

Established a U.S. based working group of

companies technical experts

– Collaborating with CLNG

Defined LNG segment boundaries and identified

applicable emission sources

Adopted available emissions estimation

methodology for LNG operations

– Build on methods available in API Compendium

Conducted several rounds of review and comment

by a broader cadre of industry experts

– Special review meeting with APPEA in Australia

Document Contents

LNG OVERVIEW

LNG SECTOR BACKGROUND

GHG INVENTORY BOUNDARIES & SCOPE

EMISSION ESTIMATION METHODS

– Stationary Combustion Emissions Estimation

– Vented Emissions

– Fugitive Emissions

– Transportation Emissions

– Non-routine emissions

Appendices • A – Glossary of terms

• B – Unit conversions

• C – Acronyms

Section 1: LNG Overview

Broad overview of the LNG sector

– EIA LNG outlook to 2030

– LNG capacity under construction outside

of North America

– Contribution of LNG to national emission

inventories

Note

• The section does not intend to

provide an in-depth LNG outlook

Section 2: LNG Sector Background

Definition of LNG

Listing of selected

LNG compositions

and HHVs for select

countries of origin

LNG applications

LNG operations

chain

Description of LNG

Operations Courtesy: MEI, LLC

Description of LNG Operations

LNG Operations boundaries

– Starts at the entry of gas to the liquefaction plant

– Terminates after regassification of liquids and

transfer for transport and marketing

Segments of the LNG Operations Chain

– Liquefaction

– Storage

– Loading and Unloading

– Shipping

– Regassification

Key Contributors to GHG Emissions

Emissions depend on facility design and operating practices – Types of storage tanks used

– Level of compression used

– Vessel pre-cooling practices

– Boil-off gas recovery

Types of vaporizers used are key contributors to regassification emissions – Submerged Combustion Vaporizers (SCV)

– Open Rack Vaporizers (ORV)

– Shell & Tube Vaporizers (STV)

– Ambient Air Vaporizers (AAV)

Above Ground Storage Tanks

Source: Kotzot et al, 2003

Section 3: GHG Inventory Boundaries

This section links the ultimate reporting of GHG

emissions from LNG operations to the

IPIECA/API Industry GHG Reporting Guidelines

GHG emission sources

– Provides detailed mapping of Combustion Sources

– Provides detailed mapping of Vented, Fugitives and

Mobile Emission Sources

GHG compounds emitted

– Emissions and quantification methods focus on CO2,

CH4, and N2O

Section 4:

GHG Emission Estimation Methods

Focus on five categories of sources

– Stationary combustion emissions;

– Process vents and other vented emissions;

– Fugitive emissions from equipment leaks;

– Mobile source combustion emissions.

– Non-routine emissions

Methods that are included in the API Compendium

are not repeated here

Tables provide listing of applicable emission

factors

Combustion Emission Estimation

For CO2 combustion estimation

– EF and annual fuel use, w/default HHV; or

– EF based on fuel use and avg C-content; or

– Measured annual fuel use and periodic

measurements of the C-content of the fuel.

For CH4, N2O combustion estimation

– EF based on annual fuel use and fuel HHV;

– Applicable equipment/technology based EF

Emission Factors for Gas Flaring

Methane Emissions from Venting

and Equipment Leaks

Sources of Methane emissions • Compressor seals

• CO2 removal systems

• Dehydration systems

• Tank overpressure

• Ship loading displacement vapors

• Loading arm disconnection

Venting of vapors • Tank overpressure venting

• Leaks from pressure relief valves

• Vapor recovery compressors

Fugitive emissions from leaking components

Need Additional data to improve these methods

Next Steps

Completed final round of industry

experts review and comments

In process of incorporating and

updating document based on

comments

Publish ‘Pilot Version’ document for

field testing of document globally

Undertake follow-up review and

revision with new information being

made available during ‘pilot period’

Thank you for your attention

Karin Ritter, API, Washington DC, USA

ritterk@api.org

Dr. Miriam Lev-On, LEVON Group, California, USA

miriam@levongroup.net

Thank you for your attention

For additional information: