1. Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Reductions for Transmission
Pipeline Blowdowns
Kanoa Frumin
UC Merced
Intern
Gas System Planning
- GDCC
K1FM@PGE.com
• The amount of greenhouse gases in the
atmosphere is rapidly increasing due to
the recent surge of industrial growth in
the world.
• Natural gas is primarily methane which
has a global warming potential over 25
times greater than CO2. Nearly one-third
of methane emissions in the US comes
from transmission and distribution of
natural gas as well as oil production.
PG&E saved over 74% of
potential gas emissions
for our largest pipeline
projects in 2015 and 2016!
How am I Helping?
Results So Far
What’s Next?
• We are currently working on gathering
emissions data for our smaller pipeline projects.
These projects are more difficult to analyze.
• New company procedures are being developed
in order to easily and accurately account for our
emissions reductions on future projects.
The Challenge
• PG&E has volunteered to participate in the
National Methane Challenge Program set forth
by the Obama Administration and EPA to reduce
methane emissions from gas operations by 50%
over 5 years.
• PG&E is working with California regulators to
identify and implement Best Practices, such as
cross-compression and drafting, to further
reduce methane emissions.
What is PG&E Doing?
• Record pipe length, diameter, operating pressures for
emission reduction calculation
• Provide input on what is needed to improve the
quality of data moving forward, including working
with other departments to develop system-wide
procedures to accurately and efficiently capture
emissions data.
Investigate gas
releases from
projects using
SAP & GIS