Colombia issues gas burning guidelines for upstream operators

Colombia’s hydrocarbons regulator ANH published technical guidelines to evaluate the efficiency of systems used by upstream companies to burn natural gas.

The instructions include a methodology to estimate the emissions of CO2, CH4 and N2O associated with the combustion process.

The guidelines are available here and in the Documents box in the top right corner.

In a related development, national oil company Ecopetrol began the dispatch of “premium” gasoline with a maximum sulfur content of 15ppm versus the 50ppm which was being sold, in line with the current regulation.

“The improvement in the quality of this fuel will achieve efficiency in the polluting gas emissions control systems, a 25% reduction in emissions compared to Euro 4 technologies,” Ecopetrol said in a statement.

The operator said it will continue technological overhauls at its Barrancabermeja and Cartagena refineries as part of decarbonization.