SLASHING THE LIFE CYCLE GHG PROFILE OF NATURAL GAS

Energy consumption projections to mid-century, undertaken by agencies in the United States and abroad, show continued consumption of oil and natural gas even in carbon-constrained futures. However, these models assume a sharp reduction of methane emissions from the fossil fuel value chain – for instance, the International Energy Agency estimates a 75% reduction in methane emission from present-day levels by 2030. Methane does not remain in the atmosphere as long than carbon dioxide, but so long as it persists, molecule for molecule it traps significantly more heat. Given the potency of this greenhouse gas, methane leakage from well to burner tip can quickly wipe out the climate benefits of switching from coal to natural gas for electricity production and undermine the branding of natural gas as a “bridge fuel”. At the same time, methane is the primary constituent of natural gas, and so can be used onsite instead of diesel, or delivered to market so long as sufficient infrastructure and demand exists. Therefore, opportunities in the form of regulation and rapidly evolving technologies exist to reduce the methane emissions profile of oil and natural gas. These opportunities should be seized upon to avoid this high-risk climate “tipping point”.