Aerial survey and field work in Northeast B.C. is expected to begin in August 2022.
The BC Energy Regulator (Regulator), in collaboration with the B.C. Government and the United Nations Environment Programme International Methane Emissions Observatory, has initiated a multi-year study to better understand the sources of methane emissions from B.C.’s upstream oil and gas sector. The methodology used for this new study, was developed through several BC Oil and Gas Methane Emissions Research Collaborative (BC MERC) projects. BC MERC is a joint initiative to support B.C.’s emissions targets and find ways to further reductions. This work will help improve tracking of methane emissions and investigate sources of emissions identified from previous research initiatives.
Methane is a colourless, odourless gas that is the main component in natural gas. In oil and gas production, methane is released into the atmosphere when natural gas is incompletely combusted, vented, or leaked. Increased concentrations of methane in the atmosphere contribute to climate change.
The scope of this year’s research is to perform aerial surveys over a large sample of facilities and well sites to support further policy and regulatory development and implementation. Subsequent research is expected to include ground-based surveys in 2023 as well as additional aerial surveys in 2023 and 2024.
The 2022 aerial survey work will be led by the Energy and Emission Research Lab at Carleton University. The project is targeting to fly over at least 1,000 sites from all producing regions in northeast B.C., within the mapped area included below.
The field work is expected to begin mid-August 2022 and may continue throughout the fall.
If you have any questions regarding this Information Bulletin, please contact:
Peter Kos
Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy
Kevin Parsonage
BC Energy Regulator
778-256-3729
