BACKGROUNDER
Canada has collaborated with the Government of Mexico and PEMEX (Petróleos Mexicanos) to develop approaches to mitigating the environmental impact of oil and natural gas development. This collaboration has been supported by Canada's $1.2-billion commitment to fast-start financing for climate change under the 2010 Copenhagen Accord. As part of Canada’s fast-start financing, Environment Canada has provided $1.5 million to the Petroleum Technology Alliance of Canada (PTAC) to administer and fund the deployment of industry experts, technologies and field measurement aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
The collaboration took the form of a demonstration project at the PEMEX Minatitlan refinery in Mexico that applied cutting-edge technologies developed in Canada. The project was conducted in partnership with the Canadian private sector, led by Clearstone Engineering Ltd. of Calgary, and involved 20 other Canadian firms. In demonstrating the uses of the various Canadian technologies, the project identified an opportunity to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by more than 1.3 million tonnes annually and to help avoid energy and product losses, with a value of $257 million per year. These technologies have widespread applicability in other PEMEX facilities as well as around the world, thus offering the potential for a highly cost-effective approach to the mitigation of GHGs in many different settings.
The project used Canadian monitoring, measurement and satellite communication technologies and applications owned by the private sector and universities. The technologies for environmental and process improvements at the refinery site included new techniques for continuous measurement with tools and software that allowed for instantaneous web-based tracking of emissions, recovery of hydrocarbons, and process and energy efficiencies. This continuous verification allows companies to sustain production goals, avoid emissions and increase the recovery of valuable liquids that generate revenue potential. This capacity to measure and monitor operations has opened up new ways to manage emissions and capture value that were not previously possible.
Melissa Lanstman
Director of Communications
Office of Canada's Minister of Natural Resources
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