The transition by Europe to offshore gas production with lower methane emissions has gone on to reach a new landmark. Operated by Netherlands-based exploration and production company ONE-Dyas, the Dutch-German N05-A gas development has gone on to become the first natural gas production project located in the North Sea so as to get an independent certification, as it has met with the highest grade as per the methane emissions standard by MiQ.
It is worth noting that the project has attained a MiQ Grade A rating after an independent audit was done on its operational practices and measured the methane emissions data by Intertek, which apparently is a global leader when it comes to Total Quality Assurance.
This certification goes on to set a new benchmark as far as lower-emissions gas production in Europe is concerned. MiQ, in a way, offers quite a transparent and rigorous, data-driven grading system in order to evaluate natural gas based upon the performance of methane, which helps in driving the regulatory compliance, incentivizing a consistent improvement, and demonstrating a transparency when it comes to upstream methane emissions.
When it comes to Dutch-German N05-A gas development, an independent audit by Intertek went ahead and verified both the emissions data of the project and the systems in place in order to manage methane as being an accredited MiQ auditor.
Already embraced by producers such as the likes of BP, ExxonMobil, and Repsol, as well as EQT in the US, the Methane Emissions Performance Standard by MiQ is based upon a comprehensive and transparent evaluation of operational practices along with the performance of emissions. Being the offtaker for this project, BP is going to market certified gas from ONE-Dyas, hence targeting large gas buyers like the utilities along with industrials.
It is worth noting that N05-A is the first gas installation based in the Dutch and German North Sea to get completely powered by renewable electricity. This is supplied through a nine-kilometer subsea power cable from the EWE-operated Riffgat offshore wind farm. By cutting combustion-based power generation, the installation prominently decreases the operational greenhouse gas emissions to almost zero. Moreover, avoiding the use of gas-driven equipment eradicates methane slip and also takes venting and leaks out of the picture, thereby further lowering the methane emissions.
According to Georges Tijbosch, Chief Executive Officer of MiQ, “The certification of N05-A highlights how innovative design and best-in-class operational practices can deliver meaningful methane emissions reductions. MiQ’s independent assessments provide governments, regulators, and end-users with trusted data that supports accountability and continuous improvement across the energy sector.”
Dutch-German N05-A gas development goes on to form a part of the GEMS area located in the North Sea, holding almost 50 billion cubic metres of Dutch as well as German natural gas potential. Through meeting the rigorous benchmarks of MiQ certification, ONE-Dyas makes sure that customers based out of the Netherlands and Germany can go ahead and source natural gas with complete confidence in its low methane environmental traits.
Chris de Ruyter van Steveninck, CEO of ONE-Dyas, opines that “With N05-A, we are not only delivering high-grade certification, we give customers verifiable assurance that this gas is produced with exceptionally low emissions. The mobile jack-up rig is also powered by that same energy source, to ensure electrified drilling. By combining innovative design with renewable power from the Riffgat wind farm, we demonstrate that domestic energy security and climate responsibility can go hand in hand. This certified gas shows what the future of cleaner, transparent and accountable gas production looks like in the energy transition.”
