Oil and Gas Peer-to-Peer Regulatory Support

In recognition of the importance of supporting regulatory approaches, the Coalition’s Marrakech Communiqué was endorsed by more than 20 Coalition partner countries, who are committed to “developing and implementing national methane reduction strategies, regulations, policies, or enhanced actions” in the oil and gas sector. Developing countries require support to define and implement these methane strategies, regulations, policies or enhanced actions. Designing regulatory standards for the oil and gas sector will require guidance and support beyond the capacity assistance already provided through the Coalition’s SNAP initiative.

The objective of this Peer-to-Peer Regulatory Support Component was to promote broad-based adoption of sector-scale policies in the oil and gas sector. Support was provided through the sharing of successful best practice solutions for regulating oil and gas methane emissions with developing countries that are seeking to fulfil their international commitments towards greenhouse gas and methane emissions reductions.

The Peer-to-Peer Regulatory Support Component supported Colombia, Argentina and Nigeria, as the countries have expressed their intent to regulate oil and gas sector emissions by signing the Coalition’s Marrakesh Communiqué or through other public communications.

After a short assessment of the countries’ regulatory needs, the work included targeted, in-country workshops and additional country-level engagement geared towards building capacity and know how, and overcoming barriers to support adoption of successful regulatory practices in the oil and gas sector. The intended outcome was the adoption of regulatory solutions and effective mitigation practices geared towards reducing methane emissions and harmful co-pollutants across the sector.

The peer-to-peer regulatory support focused on a range of topics, potentially including for example: on-shore and/or off-shore applications, treatment of existing and new installations, different types of emissions (e.g., venting, flaring and fugitive), and different emitting sources (e.g. leaks, tank venting, pneumatics, compressors, well completions and/or liquids unloading).

Specific emphasis were placed on approaches to setting standards; measurement, monitoring and leak detection technologies and procedures; different approaches to emissions reporting, including automated approaches; approaches to develop baselines and quantify emissions reductions towards NDCs and other goals; approaches used to estimate and verify emissions reduced; specific mitigation technologies; and issues related to compliance, inspections and enforcement.

Other topics included understanding national barriers to use of best practices, good examples for coordinating across different regulatory agencies that are responsible for aspects of oil and gas regulations, understanding the economic feasibility and other co-benefits of methane mitigation activities, and options for international capacity, technology and financial support for the sector.

SUMMARY OF RESULTS

• Argentina: Tailored recommendations and assessment of the barriers to implementing best practices.
• Colombia: Summary report of the training, including details of the content, participants and outcomes; Oil and Gas Well Completion Recommendations; Regulatory assessment; Feedback on Colombia’s Climate Change Integrated Management Plan; Assessment of the barriers to implementing best practices 
• Nigeria: Summary report of the training, including details of the content, participants and outcomes; Tailored recommendations and assessment of the barriers to implementing best practices