By the OGJ Online Staff
HOUSTON, Jan. 11 -- The US Environmental Protection Agency said industry participants in its Natural Gas STAR program reduced methane emissions by 34 bcf in 2000.
EPA said at $3/Mcf, the savings are worth $102 million. The voluntary STAR program, designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, has 90 industry participants across all sectors of the gas industry.
EPA said since the program began in 1993, it has reduced methane emissions from field operations and equipment leaks by 176 bcf, worth more than $500 million and equivalent to eliminating the emissions of more than 14.2 million cars or planting 21 million acres of trees.
Industry partners choose among a number of best management practices recommended by EPA for minimizing equipment leaks, reducing gas releases from unit operations, and improving equipment efficiency. Partners implement only those practices that are cost effective for their particular operations.
EPA also encourages companies to discover and implement practices for reducing gas losses. Those now account for more than 70% of the program's methane reductions.
It said Gas STAR's gas production participants represent 40% of domestic gas production, and the transmission and distribution partners represent 77% of pipeline mileage and 51% of distribution service connections. The program's partnership with gas processing companies, which was launched in 2000, already represents nearly 60% of industry throughput.
Program Manager Carolyn Henderson said, "The enthusiasm shown by processing companies for the STAR program's mission has been remarkable. Our studies indicate that the processing sector could reduce annual methane emissions by more than 35%, or 22 bcf/year, through cost-effective management practices. We're expecting great results from this sector in the future."