Reducing Oil and Gas Sector Emissions

Convening leading engineers, technical experts, and decision makers from Iraq to examine the political, economic, and public health challenges posed by emissions reductions strategies, the “Reducing Oil and Gas Sector Emissions” project led 11 visitors through Washington, D.C.; Minot, North Dakota; Denver, Colorado; and New Orleans, Louisiana. Throughout this project, participants interfaced with leading experts in the fields of oil and gas, climate change mitigation, and methane abatement, and observed the latest technologies both in development and in use at a variety of facilities. They discussed the local, state, and federal regulations that govern the oil & gas industries, and met with companies themselves to discuss private sector commitments and efforts to reduce emissions.

Learn more: Iraqi Oil and Gas Officials Come to Minot to Discuss Reducing Emissions

Project Objectives

• Discuss the benefits of capturing flare gas for energy security and public health; 

• Examine next-generation technologies to detect, capture, store, transport, and commercialize gas associated with oil extraction; 

• Learn about regulatory and voluntary efforts at the federal, state, and local levels to reduce methane emissions from the oil and gas sector; 

• Discuss best practices in facilitating cooperation between gas sector stakeholders in the government and private industry; and 

• Examine approaches to managing the transition from extractive to renewable energy sources. 

Project Design

Washington, D.C.: In the nation's capital, participants were provided a comprehensive overview of the U.S. system of government and the breadth of advocacy and policy that impacts the oil and gas sectors in the United States. Visitors met with members of the Department of Commerce and with representatives from the Department of Energy to examine the federal agencies and initiatives governing oil and gas. At the Department of State, visitors expressed their appreciation for the respect and knowledge the interlocutors demonstrated for Iraq’s current economic and political environments. 

Minot, ND: North Dakota was highlighted by a visit to Hess Oil, where interlocutors spoke directly, openly and transparently about their work and emissions reduction efforts, sharing details and offering their contact information for continued collaboration upon the visitors’ return home. Many were impressed and inspired by Hess’ use of renewable energies to reduce emissions. Their meeting with North Dakota state level departments of Mineral Resources and Commerce deepened the visitors’ understanding and appreciation for the balance and adaptability provided by the federal system. Finally, their visit to the Mandan Hidatsa and Arikara nation’s Native Green Grow project demonstrated a sustainable use for captured flared gas, which the tribe plans to use to power a greenhouse that will make them an agricultural powerhouse. Visitors also had the chance to share a meal with local families in Minot, where they discussed a wide range of topics, from food and religion to politics and real estate. 

Denver, CO: A visit to Colorado State University’s Methane Emissions Technology Evaluation Center (METEC) was rated by most of the visitors as the top meeting of the entire program, given the technical detail and the innovative methods demonstrated for detecting and quantifying methane emissions. Meetings with State level agencies (Colorado Energy and Carbon Management Commission; Department of Public Health and Environment) provided perspective for the visitors to understand the diverse needs of states and observe how a federal system allows states to respond to the needs of their citizens, resources, and geography. Visitors also met with the Tegre Corporation and Pioneer Energy to examine how the private sector can support emissions reduction initiatives, and how entire industries have grown out of the need for decarbonization and climate change mitigation. A cultural excursion to the Garden of the Gods and a home hospitality (complete with dancing!) in Denver provided the perfect conclusion to this leg of the project.

New Orleans, LA: The program concluded with one week of programming in New Orleans, where meetings focused on clean energy research, international trade, and economic development. Visitors met with the Louisiana Economic Development office to study how emissions reduction initiatives can be a valuable boon for economic development. The Louisiana State University Center for Energy Studies and the University of New Orleans New Energy Center of the US (NEXUS) meetings provided concrete examples of the contributions of academic institutions to the energy diversification landscape. Visitors had the chance to see the differences between states’ approaches through meetings with the Louisiana Department of Energy and Natural Resources and the Louisiana Senate Committee on Natural Resources. The program concluded with a closing at the InterContinental Hotel, where visitors shared their experiences, expressed their gratitude to the State Department and Meridian, and offered suggestions for future programs. 

Impact and Next Steps

Visitor Impressions:

“As a member of the emissions reduction community and collaborator with Iraq’s Department of Energy, we have had endless discussions about carbon emissions, but in the METEC meeting, we saw technologies we had never seen before. I saw the sensors, technological devices, drones, and more and how they can not only identify the leaks, but quantify them. It was the most impactful meeting for me.”

“I got a better idea of the relationship between the political and energy systems. How energy companies work alongside the government, developing proposals, and how government receives ideas from the private energy sector and vice versa.”

Equipped with a new network and knowledge, visitors aim to undertake the following steps post-program:

• Open a culture and exchange center to build connections between the Ministry of Oil and the U.S. Embassy;

• Further discuss Iraq’s needs and connect with companies in the U.S.; and

• Keep in touch with Hess Oil as a resource—their demonstrated strategies for using renewable energy to reduce emissions was something visitors had never seen.