INGAA’s board affirms methane release minimization commitments

The Interstate Natural Gas Association of America’s board of directors has affirmed its commitments to minimize methane emissions released from member companies’ interstate gas transmission and storage facilities because of continuing concern about climate change, INGAA reported.

INGAA’s methane commitments, which the board reaffirmed on July 19, embrace three core principles:

• To minimize releases from interstate gas pipelines and pneumatic controllers.

• To minimize emissions from gas storage and compressor stations.

• To develop effective practices and information sharing protocols related to detecting and reducing methane emissions.

“In many ways, these principles are about continuously improving existing practices and finding new and innovative ways to minimize methane emissions from interstate gas transmission and storage operations in a prudent and environmentally responsible manner,” INGAA Pres. Donald F. Santa said.

“Our members commit to doing this while both maintaining pipeline integrity and safe operations and minimizing adverse impacts to customers and communities,” Santa said.

The commitments include pledges to:

• Install air-driven, low-bleed, or intermittent pneumatic controllers when installing pneumatic controllers, unless a different device is required for safe operations.

• Minimize emissions during maintenance, repair, and replacement of pipelines.

• Replace rod packing on all transmission and storage reciprocating compressors.

• Conduct leak surveys at member-owned and member-operated transmission and storage compressor stations and gas storage wells.

• Commit to transparently report methane emissions.

Contact Nick Snow at [email protected].