Q435. Who is required to report under subpart W? What segments of the petroleum and natural gas systems sector are covered by the GHGRP?
A435. Facilities that contain petroleum and natural gas systems that emit 25,000 metric tons or more of CO2 equivalent per year are required to report annual GHG emissions to EPA. Subpart W requires reporting from the following ten petroleum and natural gas industry segments (see 40 CFR 98.230(a) for complete descriptions of each):
- Offshore Petroleum and Natural Gas Production: Production of petroleum and natural gas from offshore production platforms.
- Onshore Petroleum and Natural Gas Production: All equipment on a single well-pad or associated with a single well-pad used in the production, extraction, recovery, lifting, stabilization, separation or treating of petroleum and/or natural gas (including condensate). Onshore petroleum and natural gas production also means all equipment on or associated with a single enhanced oil recovery (EOR) well-pad using CO2 or natural gas injection.
- Onshore Natural Gas Processing (Effective through December 31, 2024): The separation of natural gas liquids (NGLs) or non-methane gases from produced natural gas, or the separation of NGLs into one or more component mixtures. Separation includes one or more of the following: forced extraction of natural gas liquids, sulfur and carbon dioxide removal, fractionation of NGLs, or the capture of CO2 separated from natural gas streams. This segment also includes all residue gas compression equipment owned or operated by the natural gas processing plant. This industry segment includes processing plants that fractionate gas liquids, and processing plants that do not fractionate gas liquids but have an annual average throughput of 25 MMscf per day or greater.
- Onshore Natural Gas Processing (Effective date of January 1, 2025): The forced extraction of natural gas liquids (NGLs) from field gas, fractionation of mixed NGLs to natural gas products, or both. Natural gas processing does not include a Joule-Thomson valve, a dew point depression valve, or an isolated or standalone Joule-Thomson skid. This segment also includes all residue gas compression equipment owned or operated by the natural gas processing plant.
- Onshore Natural Gas Transmission Compression: Compressor facilities used to transfer natural gas through transmission pipelines.
- Underground Natural Gas Storage: Facilities that store natural gas in underground formations.
- LNG Storage: Onshore liquefied natural gas above ground storage vessels, equipment for liquefying natural gas, compressors, and vaporization equipment.
- LNG Import and Export Equipment: Liquefied Natural Gas import and export terminals and associated equipment.
- Natural Gas Distribution: Natural gas distribution systems that deliver gas directly to the consumer.
- Onshore Petroleum and Natural Gas Gathering and Boosting: Gathering pipelines and other equipment used to collect petroleum and/or natural gas from onshore production gas or oil wells and used to compress, dehydrate, sweeten, or transport the petroleum and/or natural gas to a downstream endpoint, typically a natural gas processing facility, a natural gas transmission pipeline or a natural gas distribution pipeline.
- Onshore Natural Gas Transmission Pipeline: All natural gas transmission pipelines as defined in 40 CFR 98.238 (a Federal Energy Regulatory Commission rate-regulated Interstate pipeline, a state rate-regulated Intrastate pipeline, or a pipeline that falls under the “Hinshaw Exemption” as referenced in section 1(c) of the Natural Gas Act, 15 U.S.C. 717-717 (w)(1994)).
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