Updated API GHG Reporting Compendium Furthers Climate Progress

Muhammed Al-Refai
Posted December 9, 2021

The recent release of the updated fourth edition of API’s Compendium of GHG Emissions Methodologies for the Natural Gas and Oil Industry is one of the latest examples of America’s natural gas and oil industry making good on its commitment to take actions that build a lower-carbon future.

The compendium, used by companies and government across the world to guide reporting greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, has expanded methodologies for liquified natural gas (LNG), carbon capture, use and storage (CCUS) and revised average methane emission factors for pneumatic controllers.

The transparency provided by the free publication of the compendium – making it public to all who are interested in the methodologies that companies can use to estimate their emissions, including the specific emission factors and equations – essentially is industry “showing its work.”

Combined with API’s safety and sustainability standards and performance initiatives, the compendium is another tool in the broader mission to drive environmental progress, safety and health across its operations while meeting global demand for affordable, reliable and cleaner energy. Stephen Comstock, API vice president of Corporate Policy:

“America’s natural gas and oil industry remains focused on driving progress on climate solutions, including enhanced GHG emissions reporting, while meeting the world’s growing energy demand.”

Updating the compendium was promised earlier this year in API’s Climate Action Framework, a blueprint for industry and government actions to reduce emissions while also supplying the energy from natural gas and oil to drive economic growth and American energy security.

The compendium’s updates advance three of five key action points mentioned in the framework:

• Pushing CCUS forward
• Reducing GHG emissions by providing context or insight into emissions sources
• Driving climate reporting that is consistent and transparent across the industry

Individual natural gas and oil companies will find key guidance for estimating their GHG emissions in the updated compendium, which can be used in conjunction with a template of core GHG indicators. API President and CEO Mike Sommers, from the compendium’s preface:

“This comprehensive work establishes a foundation by which the industry can demonstrate to a wider public audience that, based on the best available emissions data, this essential American industry is crafting a range of meaningful actions to protect the environment while providing affordable energy.”

First published in 2001, the compendium provides the methodology details for all segments of the natural gas and oil industry to consistently estimate direct GHG emissions over industry’s entire value chain. The compendium has served as an essential resource for EPA’s National Inventory and Reporting Program in the U.S. and is used by other countries, including Australia, Canada, Mexico and Singapore. Comstock:

“Many companies have reported on GHG indicators for over 20 years, and we are committed to continuous improvement, including this comprehensive update of methodologies in the API compendium. The updated compendium was developed in consultation with our members and stakeholders around the world and reflects the industry’s leadership on sustainability issues and efforts to drive consistency and transparency in climate reporting.”