Latest news with #LDAR
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
2025 is ‘a pivotal year for methane mitigation' in EU thanks to world-first rules. What's changing?
Methane emissions from EU coal mines have dropped for the first time, according to the latest annual report from the International Energy Agency (IEA). The region is the first to officially constrain this major source of pollution after adopting a Methane Regulation last year. Coal mine methane emissions decreased by 8 per cent in 2024 compared to 2023. But the greenhouse gas - which is responsible for around 30 per cent of the rise in global temperatures since the Industrial Revolution - remains a huge problem in Europe and around the world. Record production of oil, gas and coal has kept emissions above 120 million tonnes (Mt) annually, according to the IEA's 2025 Global Methane Tracker. The analysts included abandoned wells and mines for the first time - finding that these sources contributed around 8 Mt to emissions in 2024. Related Methane could make or break the world's global warming limit. Where in Europe is it leaking most? The EU Methane Regulation was the world's first regulation to set a threshold on how much active underground mines, as well as abandoned and closed underground mines, can emit. It forces the fossil fuel industry to follow measurement, reporting and verification requirements; bans routine flaring and venting; sets leak detection and repair (LDAR) mandates for all oil and gas facilities; and limits venting in thermal coal mines. '2025 marks a pivotal year for methane mitigation, with coal mine emissions decreasing for the first time as the EU Methane Regulation for the energy sector takes effect,' says Dr Sabina Assan, methane analyst at global energy think tank Ember. The new regulation also stipulates that by 2027, importers must demonstrate that imported fossil energy meets the same requirements. 'By ensuring that all fossil fuels meet the same methane standards, the regulation will create a level playing field between importers and domestic producers, extending the regulations' impact far beyond European coal mines,' adds Dr Assan. Related Coca-Cola and Unilever among dozens of plastic brands tied to Texas fracking, investigation reveals This is significant, as most of the methane emissions from fossil fuels used in Europe are tied to imports. In 2024, according to IEA's tracker, methane emissions from the supply chain for oil, gas and coal imports were around 6 Mt - nearly four times what Europe emits within its own fossil fuel sector. Around 55 per cent of the fossil fuel methane emissions that occur within Europe come from the oil and gas sector, mostly from downstream operations. 45 per cent come from coal mines, mainly in Poland and Ukraine. Upstream oil and gas operations are responsible for the majority of emissions in Romania and the UK. Norway and the Netherlands have the lowest upstream intensities in the world, it says, while most other countries in the region perform near the global average. Related Flooded and forgotten: How Europe's disused coal mines are successfully being used to heat our homes 83 per cent of 5-year-olds will be exposed to 'unprecedented' extreme heat in their lifetime Abandoned underground coal mines constitute a significant and overlooked source of methane emissions. Methane gas is generated when organic matter turns to coal and is buried underground in these coal seams. When mining creates a route to the surface, much of the methane escapes. If it is not plugged, these emissions can continue for decades after a mine is abandoned. Globally, the IEA estimates that abandoned coal mines emitted nearly 5 Mt of methane in 2024, and abandoned oil and gas wells released just over 3 Mt. Combined, these sources would be the world's fourth-largest emitter of fossil fuel methane - after China, the US and Russia, and ahead of Iran, Turkmenistan and India. Since most emissions result from mines and wells that have recently been abandoned, timely action is critical, the IEA urges. Options include plugging and monitoring wells that are no longer in use, sealing abandoned coal mines, and directing methane flows for energy use. In total, the energy sector – including oil, natural gas, coal and bioenergy – accounts for more than 35 per cent of methane emissions from human activity. The agriculture and waste sectors are also major sources of methane emissions, but fossil fuel supply offers the greatest potential for immediate reductions in methane emissions, the IEA notes.
Business Wire
23-04-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
Last Mile Production, LLC Achieves 300% Production Growth and 70% Emissions Reduction with Enovate AI
HOUSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Last Mile Production, LLC, a forward-thinking independent oil and gas operator in West Texas, has reported transformative results following the deployment of Enovate AI's 3-Clicks Digital Strategy in collaboration with B4ECarbon™, the emissions management platform developed by Blockchain for Energy. The pilot initiative led to a 300% increase in oil production and a 70% reduction in emissions, while also enabling the issuance and capitalization of high-integrity carbon credits —all achieved beyond the thresholds of domestic and international compliance standards. At the heart of this success is Enovate AI's 3-Clicks Digital Strategy, a next-generation framework that combines automation, optimization, and decarbonization. By integrating cutting-edge technologies including AI, IoT, and blockchain, Last Mile has redefined how production and emissions data are captured, analyzed, and acted upon. The result: real-time operational insights, AI-driven leak detection, predictive asset management, and agile resource deployment. 'With the 3-Clicks strategy, we're not only optimizing production—we're maximizing asset value through tech-driven retirement planning, asset performance optimization, and monetizing environmental performance,' said Zach Wagner, Owner of Last Mile Production. Pushing beyond compliance, Last Mile implemented an advanced Leak Detection and Repair (LDAR) strategy aligned with the OGMP Level 5 Gold Standard. This replaced manual, periodic inspections with continuous sensor-based monitoring—providing enhanced leak detection, faster mitigation, and inclusion of previously unregulated assets. Using B4ECarbon™, these verifiable emissions reductions translate into market-ready carbon offsets. 'We're setting a new standard in energy—where performance, sustainability, and compliance go hand in hand. Last Mile demonstrates what's possible when AI, IoT, and blockchain converge: smarter operations, responsible practices, and measurable impact. This is the future of energy,' said Camilo Mejia, CEO of Enovate AI. 'At B4ECarbon, our priority is enabling energy operators to turn emissions data into strategic advantage. By delivering verifiable, blockchain-backed emissions intelligence, we help organizations like Last Mile move beyond compliance—toward operational excellence, market credibility, and environmental integrity. This is how the energy industry builds trust, unlocks new value, and drives real transformation,' said Rebecca Hofmann, CEO of B4ECarbon LLC. Last Mile's pioneering efforts are sparking momentum among other West Texas operators, many of whom are now adopting the 3-Clicks strategy. Drawn by the promise of measurable ROI, sustainable operations, and elevated asset valuation, they are joining a growing movement toward digital, data-driven energy transformation. About Last Mile Production, LLC Last Mile Production, LLC is a leading oil & gas operator in West Texas, committed to minimizing environmental impact through innovative practices. By integrating cutting-edge technologies, Last Mile optimizes resource management, reduces emissions, and plays an active role in the global energy transition. Last Mile Production About Enovate AI Enovate AI is an energy innovation company transforming how operators optimize performance and monetize sustainability. Its 3-Clicks Digital Strategy fuses automation, AI, IoT, and blockchain to deliver integrated solutions for asset optimization, emissions reduction, and responsible retirement planning. Enovate AI helps energy leaders accelerate digital transformation with measurable results. About B4ECarbon B4ECarbon™, a solution developed by Blockchain for Energy, delivers advanced emissions management for the global energy industry. By integrating blockchain, AI, and IoT, B4ECarbon enables energy companies to generate verifiable emissions data, exceed compliance, and create trusted, high-integrity carbon offsets. The platform empowers users to meet today's sustainability demands while unlocking new environmental and economic value. B4ECarbon - Blockchain For Energy
