This month, the US EPA proposed new requirements for its New Source Performance Standards (NSPS) for methane and volatile organic compounds (VOC) emissions for new and modified oil and gas sources. The proposal extends previous methane and VOC emissions requirements to hydraulically fractured oil wells and natural gas transmissions, including pneumatic pumps, and well sites and compressor stations’ fugitive emissions. It also adds new requirements for facilities covered by the 2012 NSPS VOC rules, such as incentives to find and repair leaks, capture natural gas and limit emissions from pneumatic pumps. The proposal also includes draft Control Techniques Guidelines, which are state and local recommendations for technology to reduce oil and gas industry VOC emissions. In addition, the EPA proposal contains clarifications to permitting requirements.

Source: EPA