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).
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. These mainly concern managing emissions from venting and flaring based on the following principles: flaring and venting should be at lowest possible levels in all circumstances, there must be zero routine flaring and venting for all installations by 2030, and all new developments should be planned and developed on the basis of zero venting and flaring. 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 University of York first collecting data in 2016. However,there are also many other data sources with the UNEP databases. The project will combine all data sources for the North Sea area and emissions calculated where possible. Calculations of pollutants fluxes will be calculated using a mass balance approach which can be used to estimate emissions from areas.
There will be the opportunity to work with Environmental Defence 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?
- Has methane abatement measures made a difference?
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.