Efforts by Permian Basin oil and gas operators to mitigate methane emissions are taking the global stage as many countries seek ways to mitigate their own emissions.
The Permian Basin was the site of a recent visit by a Reverse Trade Mission on Advanced Technologies for Methane Abatement sponsored by the US Trade and Development Agency. Delegates representing of 15 high-level public and private sector representatives from the oil and gas sectors of participant countries in the Middle East and North Africa visited Washington, D.C., Midland-Odessa, and Houston. They were joined by representatives from the US Foreign Commercial Service.
Chevron hosted the delegation at both its Midland and Houston locations.
“We toured our Integrated Operations Control Center here in our Midland office,” recounted Ryder Booth, vice president of Chevron’s Mid-Continent Business Unit. The center allows staff to monitor Chevron’s Permian Basin facilities in real-time, and they can be instantaneously alerted to any challenges.
The visitors also viewed Chevron’s real-time autonomous optimizer, a digital operating system that can address challenges such as water levels that exceed set levels or, if flares begin, reduce gas flows until the flares are out. Booth said a 2020–2021 pilot test of this technology showed an 80% reduction in flaring, and Chevron has since deployed the technology across its Permian assets.
Chevron also took them to the GBG North centralized tank battery, which includes vapor recovery units and sensors installed by Project Canary to monitor for methane emissions.
Booth said the company also highlighted for the visitors its LDAR—leak detection and repair—use, including cameras and flyovers done in partnership with Bridger Photonics.
“We do believe in the importance of collaboration in methane management,” said Vanessa Ryan, Chevron’s methane reduction manager and chair of the American Petroleum Institute’s Environmental Partnership. “We’ve learned a lot in the Permian Basin and share our best practices. We’ve also learned a lot from other companies.”