Your Partner in Improving Operational Efficiency, Saving Money, and Reducing Emissions What is Natural Gas STAR? atural Gas STAR is a flexible, voluntary partnership I that encourages oil and natural gas companies— I both domestically and abroad—to adopt proven, cost-effective technologies and practices that improve oper- ational efficiency and reduce methane emissions. Methane is the primary component of natural gas and is emitted as a result of oil production and in all aspects of the natural gas industry, from drilling and production, through gathering and processing to transmission and distribution. In 2006, Natural Gas STAR expanded to include interna- tional operations, significantly increasing opportunities to reduce methane emissions from oil and natural gas opera- tions worldwide. Why is Reducing Methane Emissions Important? Oil and natural gas operations are the largest man-made source of methane emissions. Methane emissions account for 2 percent of the total greenhouse gas emissions in the United States and are a significant source of global meth- ane emissions, constituting approximately 16 percent of total man-made greenhouse gas |H^^M emissions. Given methanes role as a potent greenhouse gas and the primary com- ponent of natural gas, reducing these emissions can have significant environmental and economic benefits. By working together with the Natural Gas STAR Program to prevent methane losses, I i EPA and the oil and natural gas industry are •i conserving natural gas resources, generating additional revenue, generating additional do- mestic energy supply, increasing operational efficiency, and making positive contributions to the environment at large. "Our mission is simple: to reduce methane emissions collaboratively and in a cost- effective manner using the lat- est technologies and practices. Reduced methane emissions mean more natural gas to market, greater energy security for our nation, increased rev- enue for partners, and reduced greenhouse gas emissions." — Roger Fernandez, U.S. EPA Natural Gas STAR, Team Leader "We are pleased and proud that many of our member compa- nies are part of the Natural Gas STAR Program. Participating in the Program makes sound busi- ness sense. The data has clearly shown positive results in reduc- ing greenhouse gas emissions, demonstrating that voluntary, cooperative programs are an effective tool to simultaneously meet environmental goals and put more natural gas into the market for consumers." -William Whitsitt, American Exploration & Production Council, President NaturalGas EPA POLLUTION PREVENTER Join Natural Gas STAR ------- What are the Benefits to Participating in Natural Gas STAR? Created through consensus and collaboration with industry advisors, the Natural Gas STAR Program, in conjunction with its partner companies, serves as a credible and trusted resource for oil and natural gas companies interested in reducing methane emissions. By working together to reduce methane emissions, EPA and Natural Gas STAR partners are successfully improving performance, increasing natural gas supply, saving money, and protecting the environment. Participation in the Natural Gas STAR Program has the following key benefits: • Information Sharing and Technology Transfer—EPA facilitates Technology Transfer and Annual Implementation Workshops and publishes detailed Lessons Learned Studies and Partner Reported Op- portunities (PRO) Fact Sheets; technical reports and studies; annual partner summary reports; and a quarterly newsletter to help partners learn about new and innovative technologies and practices. • Program Assistance—Natural Gas STAR offers a full range of Pro- gram support and technical assistance to partners. Through such services as project- and operational-level analyses, technical work- shops, and administrative Program support, EPA provides guidance that helps partners reap the full economic and environmental benefits of reducing methane emissions. The Natural Gas STAR team includes technical experts from all sectors of the oil and natural gas industry, as well as communication and outreach professionals. • Peer Networking—Partners can participate in Technology Transfer Workshops, Annual Implementation Workshops, and Web-based communications to build strong networks with industry peers and keep up on industry trends, initiatives, and the latest technologies. • Voluntary Record of Reductions—Through Program participation and reporting, companies create a permanent record of their voluntary Every greenhouse gas has a global warm- ing potential (GWP)—the measure of its ability to trap heat in the atmosphere relative to C02. Methane is referred to as a potent greenhouse gas because it has a GWP of 23. This means that methane is 23 times more powerful than C02 at trapping heat in the atmosphere. "Participating in the Natu- ral Gas STAR Program is a simple yet powerful way for Northern Natural Gas to cre- ate a permanent record of the cost-effective methods to avoid methane emissions. There are many facets to our program: an implementation plan that guides our participation, an in- formation database that stores the methods of avoiding meth- ane emissions and ensures accurate data, and a reporting plan that allows Northern to communicate its accomplish- ments to outside sources. Northern—a MidAmerican Energy Holdings Company- operates under its corporate environmental RESPECT policy of Responsibility, Efficiency, Stewardship, Performance, Evaluation, Communication and Training. Participation in the Natural Gas STAR Program is an extension of its corporate en- vironmental RESPECT policy." — Rick Loveless, Northern Natural Gas, Greenhouse Gas Manager and Natural Gas STAR Implementation Manager ------- accomplishments in reducing methane emissions. In addition, annual reporting allows EPA to provide post-reporting feedback to partners through individual detailed summary reports. • Public Recognition—EPA provides recognition, honors, and distinc- tions to highlight partner achievements at an annual awards ceremony, in articles in the Program newsletter and industry journals, public service announcements, and technical studies and fact sheets. EPA also helps partners communicate Program achievements to sharehold- ers, customers, and the public. How Does the Natural Gas STAR Program Work? Becoming a Natural Gas STAR partner and participating in the Program involves the following steps: Step 1 - Sign a One-Page Memorandum of Understanding This important step initiates the Partnership, demonstrates the company's commitment to the Program, and identifies company points of contact. By signing this voluntary MOU, the company is signifying its intent to evaluate current and future voluntary activities that reduce methane emissions, implement them when feasible, and report these activities to EPA on an annual basis. MOU forms for each oil and natural gas industry sector and international companies are available online. Step 2 - Develop an Implementation Plan Natural Gas STAR Implementation Plans facilitate development of a strategy for how partners will identify non-regulatory methane emission reduction activities they are already undertaking, plan new activities, and develop mechanisms for tracking methane emission reduction data such that this information can be submitted annually to the Natural Gas STAR Program. Natural Gas STAR partners are making a difference! In 2006 alone, partners reduced methane emissions by approxi- mately 86 billion cubic feet (Bcf)—equiva- lent to removing approximately 7.5 million cars from the road for one year or 28.9 million acres of pine or fir forests storing carbon for one year. This added more than $600 million to natural gas sales (based upon an average gas price of $7.00 per thousand cubic feet). Since 1993, the Program has helped realize more than 577 Bcf of methane emissions reductions. "At Devon, we are committed to protecting the environment and being a good neighbor in communities where we live and work. That's why we joined EPA's Natural Gas STAR Pro- gram in 2003. Since we began participating in the Program, we have reduced our methane emissions over 27 billion cubic feet. Since 1990, we have reduced methane emissions by over 31 billion cubic feet. To put that into perspective, that is enough natural gas to heat over 450,000 homes for a year. Further, the reduction of greenhouse gases is equivalent to planting 3.8 million trees or taking 2.75 million cars off the road for a year. Emission reduc- tion is an important part of being an environmental stew- ard, and we are proud to be associated with a project of this magnitude." —Steven O'Connell, Devon Energy, Central Division EHS Supervisor and Natural Gas STAR Implementation Manager ------- Companies develop this plan within 6 to 12 months of joining. Partner ap- proaches to developing an Implemetnation Plan vary. To provide guidance to partners and to minimize the administrative burden, Implementation Plan Forms are available online and Natural Gas STAR staff can provide any neces- sary assistance. Step 3 - Execute the Program The Implementation Plan provides a roadmap for how partners will actu- ally execute the Program within their company. The Natural Gas STAR Program is available to provide assistance needed in identifying and pri- oritizing technologies and practices based on company-specific circum- stance. However, to reap the full benefits of participation, it is ultimately up to partners to implement these cost-effective technologies and practic- es and continue to expand on their methane emission reduction activities. Step 4 - Submit an Annual Progress Report After one full calendar year of participation in the Program, partners be- gin submitting annual reports documenting the previous year's emission reduction activities and corresponding methane emissions reductions. Natural Gas STAR offers convenient reporting options. Partners can choose between submitting data via the easy Online Reporting System, using hardcopy annual reporting forms, or using their own custom for- mat. To provide guidance to partners, EPA Natural Gas STAR Program Managers and STAR Service Representatives can assist as necessary. By participating in the Natural Gas STAR Program, partners dem- onstrate leadership in their field by implementing cost-effective technologies and practices that improve operational efficiency, reduce the emissions of methane, increase natural gas supply, save money, and protect the environment. Additionally, through Program participation, partners create a credible record of their voluntary accomplishments and receive EPA recognition. For detailed information on the Natural Gas STAR Program, key components and benefits of participation, and technical resources available, visit epa.gov/gasstar. EPA430-F-08-011 August 2008 As part of the Annual Natural Gas STAR Implementation Workshop, EPA publicly recognizes partners in the following categories: Distribution Partner of the Year Gathering and Processing Partner of the Year Production Partner of the Year Transmission Partner of the Year Continuing Excellence For a complete list of Natural Gas STAR Award Winners, visit epa.gov/gasstar/ newsroom/awardwinners.html. EPA Natural Gas STAR Program Managers: Jerome Blackman blackman.jerome@epa.gov Phone: (202) 343-9630 Carey Bylin bylin.carey@epa.gov Phone: (202) 343-9669 Roger Fernandez fernandez.roger@epa.gov Phone: (202) 343-9386 Suzie Waltzer waltzer.suzanne@epa.gov Phone: (202) 343-9544 ------- |