Natural Resources Canada announced $2.1 million in funding on Thursday to support a new technology that it says could dramatically reduce methane emissions from oil and gas operations. Calgary Centre MP Kent Hehr announced the funding on behalf of Natural Resources Minister Amarjeet Sohi to Linear Motion Technologies Canada to design and test a new electric valve system that could replace thousands of existing pneumatic valves used to control oil flow rate, pressure and temperature at oil and gas sites. NRCan said that if the technology is successfully deployed in the industry, it could reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 3.3 million tonnes in five years. In addition, by designing and testing new valves with fewer parts, the new system could potentially reduce installation and operating costs for industry, NRCan said. The project, being developed by LMT with Spartan Controls, is also supported by Alberta Innovates and Petroleum Technology Alliance Canada (PTAC). PTAC president Soheil Asgarpour said the project helps with its target of increasing the sector’s methane mitigation technology capacity from 30 percent today to 45 percent by 2020, enabling industry to meet its 45 percent methane reduction target by 2025.
The Motion Technologies Canada has been granted CAD2.1 million ( $ 1.6 m ) in funding from Natural Resources Canada to develop an electric valve system that could reduce oil and gas companies ' methane emissions by up to 3.3 million mt in five years . The Petroleum Technology Alliance Canada , which is supporting the project , said the system could help the industry meet its 50 % emissions reduction target by 2025 .