Oil & Gas Exploration & Production and Natural Gas Gathering & Processing GHG Accounting Protocol Project

Efforts are underway across the country to require reporting of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from sources in the oil & gas sector and to provide for voluntary reporting of emissions from this sector. For instance:

• The States of New Mexico and California are each developing rules for mandatory reporting of greenhouse gases (GHGs), effective January 2008.
• The California Climate Action Registry has over 25 reporters from the oil & gas sector.
• The Climate Registry is recruiting companies to report into a multi-state, tribe and province GHG reporting system.

Emissions from oil & gas exploration & production (E&P) activities and natural gas processing are among New Mexico’s most significant sources of GHGs; as may also be the case in other Western states, including California. Protocol development efforts underway cover many of the significant activities in the oil & gas sector, but are not anticipated to answer all the questions required to support consistent, accurate reporting of GHG emissions from oil & gas E&P and gas processing activities.

Stakeholders with E&P and gas processing activities have expressed a desire to voluntarily register and report their GHG emissions with The Climate Registry as soon as possible. In the absence of existing guidance, they have requested a GHG accounting protocol for this sector, and are willing to help with its development. New Mexico, CARB, and CCAR have asked WRAP staff to work with industry, regulators, environmental and other technical experts to develop a oil & gas E&P and gas processing protocol by late 2008.

This protocol will build on and be consistent with related efforts underway to guide reporting in the sector; however, existing or in-progress protocols to address other oil and gas emissions may also need to be revised in the future to ensure consistency. Protocol developers will also seek approval of the protocol by The Climate Registry.

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