UK oil and gas facilities found to be ‘super emitters’ of methane plumes
British oil and gas facilities are responsible for “significant” levels of methane emissions, an investigation by a climate campaign organisation has found.
Climate advocacy group clean Air Task Force (CATF) said it found some of the largest methane emission events the group has ever witnessed in Europe after visiting more than 200 sites in 12 countries.
The report was published as transport union RMT confirmed that COP26 Scotrail strike action was set togo ahead as planned following a breakdownin further talks yesterday.
Strike action is planned to coincide with the climate summit,which will see thousands of delegates from across the globe, including world leaders such as US president Joe Biden, arrive in Scotland for crucial climate change talks. The summit is to get under way on October 31.
In preparing its report, campaign body CATF used a methane gas analyser to confirm the presence of high concentrations of methane at some locations and warned someuk sites could be “super emitters”.
Methane is the main component of fossil gas and accounts for a quarter of today’s warming.
The report comes as the UK prepares play a critical role in advancing commitments to methane emissions reduction as president and host nation of COP26, which is due to be held in Glasgow in just over a week.
CATF visited a total of seven National Grid gas compressor stations out of a total of 25 nationwide, finding methane emissions at six of the seven stations.
The group also found significant emissions of methane and other toxic gases from 13 of 17 onshore oil wells it visited, with at least ten of these often using highly polluting cold venting techniques.
The organisation said it had recorded “significant plumes” at igas Energy Larkwhistle Farm oil we ll , igas Energy Glentworth 1 oil well, igas Energy Horndean X and igas Energy Beckingham 1, as well as “significant venting” from the Perenco Kimmeridge oil well on the Jurassic Coast. The Kimmeridge site is the oldest continuously producing oil well in the UK.
Jonathan Banks, international director of super-pollutants at CATF, said: “The UK has an opportunity to become a world leader in cutting methane pollution. they have helped spearhead the Global Methane Pledge at COP26 and are making the right noises on tackling thebiggestlow-hangingfruitin climate policy.
"But these images show that promises must be turned into action as soon as possible. True climate leadership is achieved by actions, not words.”
James Turitto, super-pollutants campaign manager at CATF, said: “Considering that cutting methane pollution is our best bet to avoid significant warming in the next 20 years, it' s spectacular how much natural gas is being released into the atmosphere. In the middle of a gas crisis, it shows these companies have little regard for either the cost to the climate or costs to British citizens."
A spokeswoman for the UK Government’s Environment Agency said :“We take the environmentalrisks associated with onshore oil and gas sites very seriously. Oil and gas operators must meet the highest environmentalstandards which are set out in law.
“Our regulatory controls are in place to protect people and the environment. If the activity poses an unacceptable risk to the environment, the activity will not be permitted.”
Environmental permits require oil and gas operators to minimise emissions to the environment. it is understood audits of the sites have not identified any major permit non compliance. The Environment Agency yesterday published a study on approaches to quantifying whole site methane emissions on onshore oil and gas sites.
Nicola Sturgeon has meanwhile been urged to intervene and try to resolve the long-running rail dispute as talks once again broke down.
RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said of Friday’s talks: "There was a golden opportunity for Scotrail to make serious progress in talks, but instead they offered nothing of any consequence and as a result our action throughout COP26 goes ahead as planned.
"There can be no climate justice without pay justice and it's about time Scotrail, the SNP and Transport Scotland woke up to that fact. The same message applies to our Scottish Caledonian Sleeper members.
"There is still time to avoid the chaos of a transport shutdown during COP26 if the key players get back with some serious proposals. were main available for talks, but the ball is firmly in their court."
Earlier this week, members of another rail union, the TSSA, voted to accept the pay offer from Scotrail.
The stance from RMT means Scotrail staff will strike from Monday, November 1 until Friday, November 12.
Staff on the Caledonian Sleeper will hold two 24-hour strikes – one from 11:59am on Sunday, October 31 and one on Thursday, November 11, also from 11:59am.
Mr Lynch had earlier said he had written to the First Minister “calling on her to intervene as a matter of urgency to bring about a fair resolution” to the dispute.
A spokeswoman for Transportscotland said it was“disappointing” the RMT had not put the recent pay offer to its members in a ballot. “This is a disappointing response from the R mt leadership, particularly as we understand Aslef and TSSA have accepted the pay offer and Unite is recommending it to its members, who they are currently balloting."