Research summary
As Canada and other nations transition to a net-zero energy future, millions of oil and gas wells and pipelines will need to be abandoned or repurposed to make way for cleaner energy systems, such as geothermal, hydrogen and biogas. Dr. Mary Kang, Canada Research Chair in Environmental Monitoring and Energy Transition, aims to fill critical data gaps in this area by measuring emissions from both fossil fuel and clean energy infrastructure.
She and her research team are focusing on methane and hydrogen—potent greenhouse gases that are often under-monitored. They are developing monitoring technologies and analytics to quantify emissions from abandoned oil and gas wells, post-meter natural gas systems, and emerging hydrogen infrastructure. They are also exploring the potential to convert inactive wells into geothermal energy sources. Their work will provide practical tools and data to help governments and industry reduce emissions and environmental risks during the energy transition.