FLARE EMISSIONS FROM UNCONVENTIONAL OIL AND GAS EXTRACTION AND PROCESSING: AN NSERC STRATEGIC NETWORK FOR CLEANER FOSSIL FUELS

Matthew Johnson, Carleton
16-ARPC-01

The overarching objective of this NSERC Strategic Network is to provide a quantitative understanding of flare generated pollutant emissions critical to enabling science-based regulations, accurate pollutant inventories, understanding of climate forcing and health implications, and engineered mitigation strategies to make fossil fuels cleaner. The Network integrates a diverse group of researchers capable of meeting these research challenges through ambitious, collaborative, large-scale experiments that will significantly advance the field, while training vital new HQP in this important area. The energy sector is a dominant force in the Canadian economy, and as Canadian (and global) production shifts to exploiting shale and tight gas resources, the proposed research is critical for enabling responsible development and mitigating pollution. Society as a whole will be the ultimate beneficiary of this work through access to cleaner fossil fuels, where the low-carbon potential of unconventional gas resources is finally achieved.

Policy Issue 
Emissions from Hydraulic Fracturing

Knowledge Gap
There is a demonstrated need to explore environmental R&D related to the detection and reduction of air emissions from well sites over the well development lifespan.

Report
Press Release
NSERC FlareNet Strategic Network Primer
NSERC FlareNet Website