Jeff Rutherford: Measurement Informed Inventories – The first steps on a long journey

Abstract:

Greenhouse gas inventories are an essential tool in tracking progress towards climate targets. A decade of innovation in measurement platforms and published academic studies leveraging these platforms have demonstrated that traditional approaches of tracking methane emissions in O&G systems are often inaccurate. New approaches are being developed to construct "measurement-informed inventories" (MIIs), and these approaches differ in terms of how prescriptive they are, how reconciliation is conducted with top-down measurement data, and the overall purpose of the measurement informed inventory. In this seminar, we will reflect on the current landscape of MIIs, how these MIIs are generated, and methodological challenges. As an example, a perennial challenge to MIIs is how measurement data is extrapolated to unobserved periods lacking measurement data. We will examine this challenge in the context of the ergodic hypothesis and how supplemental data (e.g., continuous monitors and leak detection and repair datasets) might be used.

Bio:

Jeff Rutherford, Director of Research and Development (Ph.D.) is an expert in greenhouse gas simulation, inventory development, and technology assessment. At Highwood, Jeff is responsible for ensuring that Highwood’s products and services remain on the cutting edge of scientific insight and innovation in GHG emissions management. He completed a Ph.D. at Stanford University in the Environmental Assessment and Optimization research group, and is an engineer by training with a BSc in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Alberta. Jeff has presented his work on controlled release testing and bottom-up simulation of methane emissions inventories to U.S. state and national regulators and his work is cited in Environmental Protection Agency rulemaking. From 2017 to 2022, Jeff also contributed to the management and development of the open-source Oil Production and Greenhouse Gas Estimator, both in support of California’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard and helping oil producers reduce emissions