We go beyond just compliance by implementing proactive strategies to reduce our emissions. We design, construct, and maintain our facilities to ensure consistent emissions management.
Hunt supports the global desire to reduce emissions and curb the effects of climate change. We have adopted various operational strategies to manage and reduce emissions and improve efficiencies through innovation. We follow industry best practices, which include utilizing proven technologies and new ideas.
At Hunt, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with our operations are continuously monitored for opportunities to improve efficiencies and minimize emissions. In order to effectively control and minimize the volumes of emissions associated with our operations, we rely on a combination of industry best practices, regulatory commitments, and operational controls.
Our GHG emissions reporting in North America aligns with the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) GHG reporting program, which prescribes that each emission source category, methodologies, engineering calculations and emission factors are set forth in the applicable regulations to quantify GHG emissions, including methane.
One of the leading contributors to flaring is unplanned pipeline downtime. This is why we partner with third-party operators to implement strategies that mitigate potential pipeline constraints reducing the need for flaring. We are constantly looking for creative ways to find efficiencies and repurpose production outputs that decrease reliance on flaring, where possible.
Flaring in North America reduced by 74% from 2020 to 2021. This significant reduction resulted from improved sales management in North Dakota gas sales and the divestiture of West Texas assets. South America saw an overall increase in flaring in 2021, which was due to two major maintenance activities at the LNG facility.
Spotlight
The Hunt gas facility in Romania was designed to ensure that any natural gas produced that does not meet the sales quality specification is utilized in the natural gas engine generator. This design ensures that no off-specification gas is vented or flared but rather generates power for utilization within the remote gas facility. In addition, a load bank is installed for all excess electrical power generated.
Emissions Reduction in Action
One of the key functions of our Management System is to ensure continuous improvement across all areas of operation. Emission reduction strategies have been bolstered as a result of these improvements in the areas of facility design and operational management:
A suite of emission reduction-related design modifications have been applied to Hunt production facilities, such as tank vapor capture systems that are incorporated across all new and modified production facilities.
All permanent flares are installed with automatic ignition devices to ensure reliable combustion and advanced modeling of facility/equipment throughputs to avoid excess capacity constraints.
Improvements and efficiencies in operational management have ensured current best practices relating to emissions reduction are being implemented, including:
Scheduling preventative maintenance of emission control equipment
Developing an assurance program to cover all likely emission sources
Replacing all high-bleed pneumatic devices with lower emitting options
Securing the gas purchaser prior to the initial production of wells
Implementing leak detection and repair (LDAR) programs for all facilities associated with the top 80% of domestic US production
