This article is part of our OGMP 2.0 Educational Series
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- What Is OGMP 2.0?
- Emission Factors and Activity Factors Explained
- What Is a Methane Baseline?
- LDAR Programs for OGMP 2.0
- Operational vs. Fugitive Emissions
- Methane Quantification: Why It Matters
- Continuous Monitoring vs. Periodic Surveys
- What Are Fugitive Emissions?
- How to Detect Fugitive Emissions
- Upstream Methane Emissions Sources
- What Are Vented Emissions?
- Understanding Incomplete Combustion Emissions
- Achieving OGMP 2.0 Gold Standard
Understanding Incomplete Combustion Emissions: What Oil and Gas Operators Need to Know
As oil and gas operators strive to meet OGMP 2.0 goals and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, every source of methane must be addressed — not just leaks or venting, but also incomplete combustion emissions. These emissions, often overlooked, can significantly impact both climate outcomes and regulatory compliance.
What Are Incomplete Combustion Emissions?
Incomplete combustion occurs when methane or other hydrocarbons do not burn completely due to insufficient oxygen or poor combustion conditions. Instead of producing only carbon dioxide (CO₂) and water (H₂O), incomplete combustion releases additional harmful substances such as:
- Unburned methane
- Carbon monoxide (CO)
- Black carbon or soot
- Volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
In oil and gas operations, these emissions most commonly arise from flares, engines, heaters, and other combustion equipment operating at suboptimal efficiency.
Why Incomplete Combustion Emissions Matter
These emissions present both climate and operational challenges:
- Methane’s climate impact is more than 80 times greater than CO₂ over a 20-year period, making any unburned methane from flaring especially concerning.
- Local air pollution increases due to black carbon and VOCs, affecting surrounding communities and contributing to public health risks.
- Regulatory scrutiny is intensifying, especially in regions adopting comprehensive methane reporting standards.
The Role of Flaring in Methane Emissions and Climate Impact
Flaring is widely used to dispose of excess gases, particularly methane, when capture or reuse isn’t feasible. Under ideal conditions, flares operate at high combustion efficiencies (>98%), converting methane to CO₂ and H₂O.
However, real-world flare efficiency is often reduced due to:
- Variable gas flows
- Equipment degradation
- Environmental factors like wind or rain
When flare efficiency drops, flaring methane emissions rise — and so does the volume of unburned methane released into the atmosphere. These operational emissions can significantly undermine decarbonization efforts and environmental goals.
Regulatory Compliance and Incomplete Combustion Emissions
With frameworks like OGMP 2.0 and the EU Methane Regulation in force, operators are now required to account for both fugitive emissions (from leaks) and operational emissions (like flaring and combustion processes). For more information, read: Operational Emissions vs Fugitive Emissions
Specifically:
- OGMP 2.0 Level 4 and Level 5 require site-level quantification and reporting of both fugitive and operational emissions. See What is OGMP 2.0?
- Flaring is categorized as an operational emission and must be monitored and reported with increasing accuracy as operators progress through OGMP 2.0’s reporting tiers.
Failure to monitor incomplete combustion emissions from flaring can create reporting gaps and prevent companies from achieving OGMP 2.0 Gold Standard status.
Monitoring Flaring Methane Emissions
Measuring flaring efficiency and resulting emissions requires technologies capable of remote sensing. Commonly used technologies include:
- Infrared Cameras (IR): Ground-based cameras that capture thermal images of flare stacks to infer combustion behavior.
- Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR): Measures gas composition in the flare plume.
- Ultraviolet Differential Optical Absorption Spectroscopy (UV-DOAS): Tracks methane and other gases through UV absorption.
- Drone and Aerial Surveys: Used to gather emissions data across multiple flaring sites with high spatial resolution.
- Satellite-Based Observations: Useful for large-scale flare tracking, though limited by resolution and revisit frequency.
Incorporating Flaring into Your OGMP 2.0 Emissions Monitoring Strategy
For organizations that are looking to achieve OGMP 2.0 Level 4 and Level 5 reporting, a best-practice emissions strategy includes the combined use of emissions monitoring technologies:
- Source-level quantification monitoring technology: Systems such as fixed continuous emissions monitoring systems provide direct measurements to establish site specific emissions factors and activity factors for each emissions source.
- Site-level quantification monitoring technology: Such as OGIs, drones, and satellites captures data from equipment not accessible by ground-level sensors such as flaring.
By combining these technologies, operators can build a site-wide emissions profile that supports transparent, accurate, and auditable reporting — aligning with OGMP 2.0 and emerging international standards.
Conclusion: A Holistic View of Incomplete Combustion Emissions
Incomplete combustion emissions, particularly from flaring, are a critical component of a modern emissions management program. They contribute significantly to both climate impact and regulatory risk — but they are also measurable and manageable with the right combination of technologies.
To achieve OGMP 2.0 Gold Standard compliance and demonstrate true leadership in methane mitigation, operators must take a comprehensive approach to monitoring that includes both flaring and fugitive emissions.
Want the complete roadmap to OGMP compliance—from Level 1 to Gold Standard?
Achieving OGMP 2.0 Gold Standard Reporting
Read our guide Achieving OGMP 2.0 Gold Standard Reporting to learn the step-by-step framework, best practices, and technology insights you need to progress through every compliance level with confidence.
