Air

Benzene

Under some circumstances, the upstream oil and gas industry produces benzene, a known cancer-causing compound.

The main source of the industry’s benzene emissions is the use of glycol dehydrators. Located at or near some gas fields, these dehydration units use the chemical glycol to remove water and other components from raw natural gas. This process is required to meet pipeline specifications and helps to improve the efficiency of clean-burning gas in home heating and electricity generation.

The industry emits about 1,988 tonnes of benzene each year from about 3,720 glycol dehydrators.

• industry best practices
  Through the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (CAPP), the industry has developed and promoted best practices guidelines to reduce benzene emissions from glycol dehydrators in Canada. As a result, benzene emissions from dehydrators were reduced by 77 per cent (from 8,743 tonnes in 1995 to 1,988 tonnes at the end of 2002). During this period, natural gas production increased by 15 per cent but the number of dehydrators in service declined by about 31 per cent.
  
  
• equipment
  Industry works with manufacturers of dehydration and emissions control equipment to develop equipment that cost-effectively meets service requirements and reduces benzene emissions.
  
  
• air quality management
  The upstream industry supports federal government efforts to reduce benzene levels as part of air quality improvement initiatives. Regulators in several jurisdictions are reviewing employee exposure limits, and industry is acting to reduce benzene emissions.