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Fugitive Emissions are estimated to make up around 5% of total global emissions and are one of the major concerns within the hydrocarbon production and logistics industry. The common practice of gas flaring is a well-known source of fugitive emissions that the industry is working to address, not only because of increasing environmental and health regulations, but also because it translates to higher operating cost. | By Tasha Jamaluddin, Managing Director, Epcon Industrial Systems, LP.

The Clean Air Act, introduced in 1970, was established to provide oversight and regulation of air emissions. This act was designed to improve air quality, prevent detrimental environmental impacts, and most importantly, to protect the safety and well-being of the public. Over the next 20 years, the EPA, along with state and local governments, worked to establish and implement Ambient Air Quality Standards, which are to be effectively implement nationally.

Leak Detection & Repair (LDAR) Consent Decree (CD) Audits, both internal and third-party, have been the norm for most refineries since the early 2000s. Several facilities have complied with CD requirements and have successfully retired their CDs, but they have continued regular audits as best practice.

Following the COP26 Climate Change conference in Glasgow in October 2021, the United States and Canada agreed to 30% reduction in Green House Gases (GHG) pollutants by the year 2030; this would be compared to the baseline year 2020 pollutants levels.

With the ever-changing economy and concerns of global warming, many modifications to manufacturing and process industries already have and are about to take place; several of which will be initiated and controlled by various governmental bodies. One of these changes is the finalizing of Appendix K for the downstream sector, as it has already been adopted by the upstream and midstream sectors.

The United States and Canada are recognized as leading countries for environmental protection and regulation for the American oil & gas industry. API, ASME and MSS fugitive emission standards have become intrinsic to major oil companies globally, and recently, to those in Mexico aiming to reduce their environmental impact and expand their influence internationally.

Optical gas imaging (OGI) cameras are a versatile tool, promoting efficient facility operations and responsible corporate citizenship by quickly identifying gas leaks, confirming vented emissions, and accurately quantifying both. We look at the dynamics of a low-carbon economy and discuss how producers can implement OGI.

EPA Method 21 has been used in Leak Detection & Repair (LDAR) programs for the past 40 years to detect fugitive emissions of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) from industrial components such as valves, flanges, connectors, pumps, and compressors. It is important that these leaks be identified and repaired quickly since once released to atmosphere, VOCs affect human health and environmental air quality.

Storage tanks are used as reservoirs in oil processing to temporarily hold oil during different phases of processing, to separate various types, and/or to hold until consumed. The materials and structure of industrial storage tanks are dictated by the application, and the safety, environmental and legal obligations of the storage region. It is important to understand the types, uses, tools, and updates to the existing standard for volatile organic liquid (VOL) storage tanks.

After four decades of experience in design and production of valves, Zwick excels at the creation of state-of-the-art flow control products for the global oil and gas, chemical, petrochemical, energy, offshore, district heating and steel industries. Its in-house design enables the company to offer its customers customized low-e product solutions.