Over the last decade, numerous air quality regulations have been implemented by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and various state environmental regulatory agencies. As with the majority of federal EPA regulations, administration of federal air regulations is delegated to the state environmental agency. This includes permitting, inspections, emission pollution control standards and enforcement. The exception to this is reporting of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions which primarily is administered by EPA. Some states (e.g., CA, CO, PA also require annual reporting of GHG emissions from oil and gas facilities. Also, EPA administers annual compliance reporting for NSPS OOOO, OOOOa, and OOOOb.
Two general types of air quality regulations that affect oil and gas operations include Emission Standards and Emission Reporting. Below is a discussion of important aspects of the two types of air quality regulations with a focus on EPA regulations.
Emission Standards
Emission standards are based on the type of air pollutant emitted, the amount of emissions and the date the facility was constructed, reconstructed or modified. The three general categories of air pollutants that apply to oil and gas include:
Criteria pollutant emission standards.
- These are generally called New Source Performance Standards (NSPS) and are in Title 40 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 60 (40 CFR 60).
- The criteria air pollutants include NOx, CO, VOC, SO2, PM2.5, PM10, and lead
Greenhouse gas (GHG) emission standards.
- Recent revisions to the NSPS rules in NSPS OOOOb include emissions standards for CH4 emissions.
Hazardous air pollutant (HAP) emission standards.
- These are generally called Maximum Achievable Control Technology and Generally Available Control Technology standards and are in 40 CFR 63.
- The HAPs of concern for oil and gas include benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylenes, n-hexane, and 2,2,4 trimethylpentane
Emission standards require specified emission source types (e.g., storage tanks, glycol dehydrators) to comply with certain emission standards. The emission standards can include prohibition of emissions,
Emissions Reporting
GHG emissions reporting:
- EPA required GHG reporting for facilities emitting 25,000 metric tons CO2e or more per year. The GHGs of concern for oil and gas include carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N2O).
- GHG reporting to states such as CA, CO, PA require annual GHG reporting
Criteria air pollutants and HAPs reporting:
- State reporting is required for facilities that are major sources. Criteria pollutant major sources emit 100 tons per year (tpy) or more of any criteria pollutant. HAP major sources emit 10 tpy or more of any one HAP or 25 tpy of any combination of HAPs. The major source reporting status is based on potential to emit (i.e., air permit limits) or actual annual emissions.
GHG and criteria air pollutant reporting regulations require oil and gas facilities to annually report emissions based on certain parameters (fuel combusted, gas vented, operating hours, etc.) that are tracked by the facility. The rules may prescribe use of certain emission factors, equations and/or models and certain testing and monitoring data.
Below is a reference table outlining EPA air quality regulations applicable to oil and gas VOC and CH4 emissions.
Below are products and services that Cimarron successfully does to assist the oil and gas industry with regulatory compliance and reducing costs.
Summary and Conclusions
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and various state agencies regulate air quality emissions from oil and gas operations. These regulations focus on two main areas: emission standards and emission reporting.
Emission standards set limits on how much air emissions oil and gas facilities can release to the atmosphere, depending on the pollutant type, the amount of emissions and facility construction date. There are standards for criteria air pollutants, greenhouse gases (GHGs), and hazardous air pollutants (HAPs). Facilities must also report their emissions annually, with specific requirements depending on the type and amount of pollutants emitted. Cimmaron has a wide range of products and services to assist companies with compliance and cost reduction.
Cimarron – Who We Are
With decades of operating history and innovation across our trusted brands, Cimarron provides technology-driven emissions management solutions for the global energy system. Our leading-edge products, services, and real-time monitoring systems reduce emissions, optimize operations, ensure regulatory compliance, and drive sustainability progress for our customers operating in oil & natural gas production, energy storage & distribution, renewables & biogas, coal mine methane, and certain industrial end markets.
Cimarron boasts a collection of well-established technologies which have been assembled and innovated from trusted industry brands. Our vast global experience, spanning tens of thousands of equipment installations, serves as a testament to our ability to achieve success in every project upon which we embark.
Cimarron is headquartered in Houston, Texas with approximately 550 employees serving our global customer base. In addition to being present in all major regions in the U.S., Cimarron operates across more than 45 countries around the world. We support our customers from sales, engineering, manufacturing, and field service locations across the United States, Italy, India, England, and the United Arab Emirates, further supported by our network of international partners.
Please contact us to learn more about our products and services and about all our solutions at sales@cimarron.com or visit our website www.cimarron.com.