The Climate Action Reserve is launching development of two new protocols addressing U.S. oil and gas well plugging and the inclusion of renewable energy generation to new and existing landfill and livestock protocols.

U.S. oil and gas well plugging

The Reserve is launching the development of a new protocol that will provide guidance on how to quantify, monitor, report, and verify methane emission reductions from early plugging of marginally producing oil and gas wells in the U.S.

Hundreds of thousands of unplugged marginally producing and orphaned wells across the country emit more than 1.5 billion tonnes of CO2e/year. Marginal wells make up less than 5% of U.S. oil and gas production but account for over 50% of the methane emissions from oilfields.

The protocol will be developed through the Reserve’s transparent, multi-stakeholder process. Stay tuned for information on the kick-off webinar and technical workgroup in the coming weeks.

Following the development of the protocol for marginally producing wells, the Reserve plans to explore the development of a protocol for orphaned wells. The development of these protocols will quickly and significantly reduce methane emissions across the U.S.

Renewable energy generated from landfill and livestock projects

The Reserve is exploring the opportunity to include emission reductions from fossil fuel energy displacement in landfill and livestock biodigester projects that generate renewable energy from biogas. This activity would only be applicable in jurisdictions without legal requirements or fiscal incentives or where the activity is not common practice.

The Reserve’s landfill and livestock protocols address methane from manure management and waste handling but do not currently provide incentive or credit for energy production. Incorporating reductions from biogas energy generation could improve the economic feasibility of methane reduction projects, supporting greater overall emission reductions at livestock and landfill facilities.

The Reserve will include renewable energy generation in the forthcoming Chile Landfill Protocol, which is planned to be released for public comment in the coming month. Following that, the Reserve will assess existing landfill and livestock methodologies for potential incorporation in jurisdictions with clear additionality.