Library / Guideline for Management of GHG and Fugitive Emissions from Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Operations
Guideline for Management of GHG and Fugitive Emissions from Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Operations

Page 11 of 49
a? 
NIGERIAN MIDSTREAM AND 
ic DOWNSTREAM PETROLEUM 
: 
: 
J 
REGULATORY AUTHORITY (NMDPRA) 
Applicable to all Midstream and Downstream 
Petroleum Operations 
GUIDELINES FOR MANAGEMENT OF GREEN HOUSE GASES (GHG) 
AND FUGITIVE EMISSIONS FROM MIDSTREAM AND DOWNSTREAM 
PETROLEUM OPERATIONS IN NIGERIA 
2.0 OVERVIEW OF GREEN HOUSE GAS (GHG) EMISSIONS 
2.1 Emission Sources and Management 
All GHG emissions specifically, Methane 
(CHa4), Carbon dioxide (CO2) and Nitrous 
Oxide 
(N2O), 
are potent gases with significant implications 
for climate change. 
Although CH4 has 
a much shorter atmospheric lifetime than CO2, about 
12 years 
compared 
with 
centuries 
for COz, 
it absorbs much 
more 
energy 
while 
in 
the 
atmosphere. Thus, while CH4 tends 
to receive 
less attention than CO2, reducing 
energy-sector CH4 emissions will be critical for avoiding the worst effects of climate 
change due to its higher Global Warming Potential (GWP). 
Natural gas and petroleum systems are the second largest source of CHa emissions into 
the environment. CH, is the primary component of natural gas, which is emitted into 
the atmosphere during oil & gas production, processing, storage, transmission, and 
distrioution. The key activities that emit CHa in the petroleum industry include gas 
flaring, venting, fugitive emissions and leaks from pipelines, process equipment etc. 
Fugitive 
emissions 
and 
leaks 
occur 
through 
equipment 
such 
as, 
Compressors, 
pneumatics controllers & pumps, glycol dehydrators, valves/flanges, vents of storage 
tanks, flares etc. 
Management of GHG emissions successfully, requires adopting 
a comprehensive 
approach and action on all fronts to address the urgency of climate change. This 
approach constitutes the elimination, reduction, substitution and compensation of 
unavoidable residual emissions as a last option of these gases. 
2.2 
Compliance Directive 
A licensee or permit holder shall comply with the following to reduce and/or eliminate 
GHG and fugitive emissions from its activities or operations: 
2.2.1 
Ensure during the design, modification, installation 
or decommissioning 
of 
its 
facilities, the submission of 
a GHG Management Plan for approval towards the 
issuance of the applicable license. 
2.2.2 
For existing facilities, 
a) Develop and submit 
a GHG Management Plan within six (6) months from the 
effective date of these Guidelines for approval or 
10