EQT: Company-Wide Initiative Reduces EQT’s Methane Emissions By 70%

On January 4, Pittsburgh-based EQT Corporation, the largest producer of natural gas in the United States, announced the completion of a $28 million company-wide initiative to eliminate 100% of its natural gas-powered pneumatic devices from its production operations. 

As a result of the initiative, EQT has reduced its methane emissions by 70% and reduced its annual carbon footprint by 305,614 metric tons of CO2e.

Nearly 9,000 pneumatic controllers were replaced or retrofitted on all EQT production locations and compressor stations through a "fit-for-purpose" technology strategy using primarily electric actuators and air compressor installations. 

As part of the initiative, EQT installed 341 air compressors and retrofitted 451 dump assemblies and 381 motor valves to electric actuators. 

The entire conversion process took just 515 days and was completed a full year ahead of schedule. In all, execution of the program took nearly 23,000 man-hours.

Replacing natural gas-driven pneumatic devices, which are used for managing produced fluids in separators, scrubbers and filters, represents a meaningful opportunity for reducing methane emissions within the industry. 

At EQT, natural gas-powered pneumatic devices were the source of 39% of the Company's 2021 Production segment Scope 1 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

"We told the world we were aggressively addressing methane emissions and we did what we promised. As the nation's largest natural gas producer, EQT not only delivered on its commitment to eliminate a major source of methane emissions in our operations, we also did it in a cost-effective, expedient way," said Toby Z. Rice, President and CEO of EQT. "This milestone demonstrates our team's exceptional ability to rapidly evolve EQT's operations through innovation and teamwork and better positions affordable, reliable, clean natural gas as one of the world's most impactful decarbonizing tools."

EQT has a long-standing commitment to ESG and is committed to responsibly developing its world-class assets. The Company is on track to meet its previously-announced targets to achieve net zero Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions in its Production segment operations by or before 2025.2

The program to eliminate natural gas-powered pneumatic devices is one of several strategic ESG initiatives currently underway including:

-- EQT has certified 66% of its natural gas under both the EO100™ Standard for Responsible Energy Development, which focuses on environmental, social and governance performance, and the MiQ methane standard.

-- In 2022, EQT announced it is collaborating with leading companies to establish a Regional Clean Hydrogen Hub in the Appalachian region, the Appalachian Regional Clean Hydrogen Hub (ARCH2).

-- EQT is electrifying the oilfield replacing diesel in completion operations with electric crews.

EQT is sharing the rationale and methodology the Company used for replacing or retrofitting its natural gas-powered pneumatic devices with other operators.

Click Here for a copy of a white paper on the methodology.

Click Here for the complete announcement.

NewsClip:

-- Pittsburgh Business Times: EQT Shale Gas Company Complete $28 Million Methane-Reduction Program

PA DEP Public Notice Dashboards:

-- Pennsylvania Oil & Gas Weekly Compliance Dashboard - Jan. 7 to 13  [PaEN]

-- PA Oil & Gas Industrial Facilities: Permit Notices/Opportunities To Comment - Jan. 14  [PaEN]

-- DEP Posted 46 Pages Of Permit-Related Notices In Jan. 14 PA Bulletin  [PaEN]

PA Oil & Gas Industry Compliance Reports:

-- PA Oil & Gas Industry Has Record Year: Cost, Criminal Convictions Up; $3.1 Million In Penalties Collected; Record Number Of Violations Issued; Major Compliance Issues Uncovered; Evidence Of Health Impacts Mounts

-- DEP Report Finds: Conventional Oil & Gas Drillers Routinely Abandon Wells; Fail To Report How Millions Of Gallons Of Waste Is Disposed; And Non-Compliance Is An ‘Acceptable Norm’

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-- DEP Ongoing Explosion/Fire Investigation: Energy Transfer Reported An Uncontrolled Release Of Ethane For 9.5 Hours From Its Revolution Natural Gas Processing Plant In Washington County  [PaEN]

-- Guest Essay: Counties, PEMA Need To Include A Complete Vulnerability Assessment Of All Natural Gas Facilities In State, County Hazard Mitigation Emergency Plans [PaEN]

-- DEP Releases 2 More Bid Solicitations To Plug 38 Abandoned Conventional Gas Wells In Venango County At Taxpayer Expense; Average Cost To Plug $95,000  [PaEN]

-- Ohio River Valley Institute Report Shows Diversified Energy, Owner Of Over 22,500 Conventional Oil & Gas Wells In PA, May Be Financially Insolvent  [PaEN]

-- Fish & Boat Commission Investigation Of Pollution From PA General Energy Natural Gas Development Construction Site On Exceptional Value Loyalsock Creek Results In Settlement Agreement  [PaEN]

-- PJM’s Preliminary Review Of Christmas Storm Electric Generation Failures Shows Natural Gas Units Failed To Provide Power At Over Triple The Rate Of Other Generation  [PaEN]

-- EPA Invites Comments On Draft Oil & Gas Waste Injection Well Permit In Young Twp., Jefferson County; Feb. 13 Virtual Hearing Tentatively Set  [PaEN]

-- Better Path Coalition Outlines Needed Environmental, Climate Policy Changes For Incoming Shapiro Administration  [PaEN]

-- American Petroleum Institute Unveils Plan To Prioritize U.S. Natural Gas And Oil; Target Northeast U.S. For Pipeline Development  [PaEN]

-- EQT, Chesapeake, Equitrans Shale Gas Companies Announce Methane Reduction Initiatives  [PaEN]

-- Groups Host Jan. 17 Webinar On Climate & Health Impacts Of Methane Gas From Oil & Gas Operations  [PaEN]

-- FracTracker Alliance Hosts Jan. 17 Webinar On Exploring Oil & Gas Industrialization Impacts On Watersheds  [PaEN]

-- Bob Donnan’s Blog: Has Anything Changed? - Shalefield Stories, Revisiting Our Fracking Past

[Posted: January 9, 2023]  PA Environment Digest