Change in Methane and VOC emissions in the North Sea area over the previous 10 years

Oil and gas production in the UK is expected to remain a significant industry throughout the 2020s with 82 new production licenses issued in 2023, allowing companies to explore and drill for new reserves (1). Methane (CH4) is one of the most well-studied emissions from the oil and gas industry; the International Energy Agency (IEA) Methane Tracker bottom-up estimate of offshore emissions estimated that it was responsible for ~20% of non-natural global releases in 2023 (2).
Methane also has significant sources inland and the project will investigate ports as a potential emitter. As Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) becomes more utilised for ships there is more potential for methane emissions, especially due to methane slip, which is the release of the gas through the combustion engine at low load operations.
The Global Methane Pledge (https://www.globalmethanepledge.org/) is a non-binding international framework for national commitments to reduce methane emissions by at least 30% by 2030. In the UK, the government Net Zero Strategy (3) includes objectives to reduce methane emissions from energy, agriculture and waste sectors by 68% by 2030, and 77% by 2035, compared to 1990 levels. To enable this, the North Sea Transition Authority (NTSA) Strategy now incorporates a range of methane targets for the oil and gas industry. To support evaluation of the delivery of these planned reductions requires an accurate assessment of the current emissions position; baseline data against which future releases can be judged.
The project
Data has been collected across the North Sea over many years with the University of York first collecting data in 2016. However, there are also many other data sources within the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) databases. The project will combine all data sources for the North Sea area and calculate emissions where possible.

Data will have recently been collected at a LNG terminals in the UK (Milford Haven and Isle of Grain in Kent), this and further measurements will be taken using the Wolfson Atmospheric Chemistry Laboratories (WACL) mobile lab to assess methane emissions as ports decarbonise.
There will be the opportunity to work with Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) Europe Head Office in multiple 2-3 days funded placements which is based in Brussels to spend time with the methane policy team and learn how the science gets translated for policy makers and how the team interacts with policy maker along with short trips to meet with their UK representatives in London.

The project will then use the database to answer key scientific questions including;
● How has methane and VOC emissions changed historically?
● What are the geographic differences in emissions?
● What are the current sources of methane at UK ports?
● Has methane abatement measures made a difference to offshore measurements?

The project may include fieldwork if grants are funded to take further measurements.

The student will be based in the Wolfson Atmospheric Chemistry Laboratories (WACL), in the Department of Chemistry at the University of York but will also work and be co supervised by staff at the University of Leeds. WACL is the largest atmospheric chemistry facility in the UK, providing access to state-of-the-art facilities and a wide range of interdisciplinary expertise. The student will benefit from research training and events tailored for atmospheric chemistry students, including training courses provided by the National Centre for Atmospheric Science.