Agenda Day One (October 1)

8:00 am - 8:30 am Check In & Networking Breakfast

8:30 am - 8:40 am Welcome from Conference Director & Chair’s Opening Remarks

Blake Wickland - Director, Methane Emissions Leadership Alliance (MELA)
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Blake Wickland

Director
Methane Emissions Leadership Alliance (MELA)

In the wake of newly proposed federal regulation regarding methane emissions in the oil and gas industry, this session will offer industry representatives, leaders, and regulators the opportunity to comment on these developments and propose amendments to be considered amongst the subsequent legislative review period. The panel will consider:


  • What technological advancements and operational changes will be necessary to meet the new regulatory standards?
  • What are the potential economic consequences of the new regulation on the oil and gas industry, including the costs of implementation, potential revenue streams from emissions reduction, and market shifts?
  • How can companies adapt to stay competitive while ensuring compliance?
  • If a provision which would allow companies to avoid compliance by installing promising, but as-yet unproven, technologies for continuous methane monitoring will threaten to undermine real progress or foster progress?
  •  Exploring a comparison of potential variances in Provinces’ adoption of the regulation
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Jackson Hegland

Executive Director
Methane Emissions Leadership Alliance

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Blake Wickland

Director
Methane Emissions Leadership Alliance (MELA)

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Scott Volk

Director of Emissions & Innovation
Tourmaline Oil Corp

9:20 am - 9:50 am Accelerating Methane Reduction with Advanced Monitoring and End to End Emissions Management Solutions

Ayan Sarkar - Head of Product, Digital Sustainability, Honeywell
  • Gain an overview of advanced monitoring technologies
  • Understand how advanced monitoring technologies can be effective integrated into Software-as-a-Service digital & services frameworks
  • Demonstrate how this will result in accelerated identification of methane releases, in turn advancing rapid reductions
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Ayan Sarkar

Head of Product, Digital Sustainability
Honeywell

This discussion will bring together policymakers, technology providers, and NGOs to explore the critical aspects of fostering technology research and development (R&D) with an aim to unlock the full potential of technology in the methane mitigation landscape, ensuring that Canada remains a leader in this field. Technology serves as the linchpin in reducing methane emissions efficiently and sustainably. We'll discuss how policies, innovation, and financing can empower technology to be the driving force in our shared goal of mitigating methane emissions effectively. Attend to:


  • Understand the importance of policies which champion R&D, early commercialization, and expansion stages
  • De-politicize technology innovation and embrace optionality
  • Prioritize consideration of the entire technology development cycle, understand costs, and design policies that target critical stages for the technology take-off
  • Evaluate how we can de-risk investments and secure infrastructure build-out
  • Discuss access to financing and self-activating incentives
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Mirela Hiti

Director of Engineering
Gibson Energy

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Claude Ghazar

Director, Recovery Technologies
Alberta Innovates

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Iftikhar Huq

Executive Director, Technology and Innovation
NGIF Accelerator

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Isabella Tarasco

Technology Investment Manager
Emissions Reduction Alberta

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Blake Wickland

Director
Methane Emissions Leadership Alliance (MELA)

10:30 am - 11:00 am Morning Networking Break


11:00 am - 11:30 am Simplifying Emissions: Streamlining Methane Data for Greater Efficiency and ROI

Justin Clark - Principal Data Scientist, Envana Software Solutions
  • Is Emissions Reporting Your Main Brain Drain? What To Do About It
  • Transparent Data Gathering, Analyzing, Reporting and Forecasting
  • Why Auditable Value Chain Tracking Represents Greater Marketing Potential and Returns
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Justin Clark

Principal Data Scientist
Envana Software Solutions

11:30 am - 12:00 pm Finding The Balance: The Reconciliation Puzzle

Joanne Germaine - EHS Controller, Kiwetinohk Energy Corp
  • Understand how a range of top-down measurements are needed to reflect the variability of bottom-up emissions
  • Understand how local conditions impact the suitability of top-down technologies
  • Assess how often we are likely to obtain useful top-down data given different emission rates and weather conditions
  • Discuss the OGMP 2.0 level 5 gold standard

Joanne Germaine

EHS Controller
Kiwetinohk Energy Corp

In addition to accurate measurement, robust and transparent reporting is needed to accurately assess progress and amend strategy accordingly. Join us to:

 

  • Address Canada’s lack of measurement-based reporting requirements
  • Understand why reporting standards are an essential driver of methane reduction
  • Conduct a comparison of provincial reporting frameworks – would greater synergy allow for a more accurate assessment of progress?
  • Understand the importance of creating consistency across the year of reference cited in reduction goals
  • Analyze existing industry frameworks, including OGMP 2.0, to create an image of what ‘best practice’ means in terms of measurement-based reporting
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Tomi Moronkola

Coordinator, Sustainable Development
ConocoPhillips

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Carolyn Ussher

Sr. Emissions Specialist
Alberta Energy Regulator

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Saba Aghassi

Senior Engineer - Decarbonization Strategy and Emissions Management
ATCO

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Tyler Bryant

Director, Decarbonization and Sustainability
FortisBC

12:30 pm - 1:30 pm NETWORKING LUNCH


1:30 pm - 2:15 pm INTERACTIVE DISCUSSION GROUPS

These interactive discussion groups are your opportunity to take part in facilitated group discussions with your peers. Choose the discussion group you would like to attend. Each run for 35 minutes.

Interactive Discussion Groups

1:30 pm - 2:15 pm IDG A: Harnessing Aerial Technologies for Effective Methane Mitigation
Carolyn Ussher - Sr. Emissions Specialist, Alberta Energy Regulator
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Carolyn Ussher

Sr. Emissions Specialist
Alberta Energy Regulator

1:30 pm - 2:15 pm IDG C: Carbon Offsetting Amongst New Regulations
Scott Volk - Director of Emissions & Innovation, Tourmaline Oil Corp
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Scott Volk

Director of Emissions & Innovation
Tourmaline Oil Corp

1:30 pm - 2:15 pm IDG D: The Role of Artificial Intelligence in Methane Mitigation to Bridge Gaps in Your Data

1:30 pm - 2:15 pm IDG F: Reducing Venting and Flaring
Blake Wickland - Director, Methane Emissions Leadership Alliance (MELA)
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Blake Wickland

Director
Methane Emissions Leadership Alliance (MELA)

2:15 pm - 2:45 pm In Demand: Overcoming Barriers to Compliance

Blake Wickland - Director, Methane Emissions Leadership Alliance (MELA)

The Canadian government is elevating emissions-monitoring standards by implementing a risk-based framework for conducting inspections on fugitive emissions. This approach mandates more frequent inspections for facilities with equipment that poses higher emission risks. Additionally, the draft regulations introduce an audit system, necessitating an annual third-party inspection to verify company program outcomes which is proposed to take effect in 2027. However, there are growing concerns about the capacity of service providers to undertake such inspections. Join us to:


  • Explore potential solutions and best practices to address the challenges posed by the proposed regulations, fostering a constructive dialogue among industry experts, regulators, and stakeholders
  • Assess the readiness of third-party inspection service providers to meet the demands of the proposed audit system, acknowledging the current labour shortage
  • Discuss how government, the education system, and industry can collaborate to encourage a new generation of workforce to enter the service provider industry
  • Discuss how we can maintain a level balance between supply and demand to ensure producers are not compromised in their ability to comply with regulation
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Blake Wickland

Director
Methane Emissions Leadership Alliance (MELA)

2:45 pm - 3:25 pm Solution Insight Session

As Canada increasingly turns to Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) for its energy needs, the imperative to tackle methane emissions along the LNG value chain has never been more critical. Considering the growing use of LNG as a fuel across Canada, this session will explore how we can ensure methane emissions are managed effectively, focusing on:


  • Insights into the diverse sources and complexities of emissions
  • Exploring advanced materials, such as alloys and coatings, for reducing the likelihood of leaks from legacy pipeline systems
  • Examining real-world examples and case studies from Natural Gas production and pipeline operators who have successfully implemented emissions reduction strategies
  • Prioritizing characterization of methane emissions from each element in the gas production, processing, and transport chain, including evaluation of specific components such as pipelines, valves, pneumatic controllers, compressors, and storage tanks
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Brain Halchak

Manager – QMRV & Next Gen Gas
Williams

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Edwin Makkinga

Manager, Carbon Policy
Enbridge

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Samaneh Ashoori

Program Manager, Emissions Testing Centre (ETC)
NGIF Accelerator

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Blake Wickland

Director
Methane Emissions Leadership Alliance (MELA)

Join our panellists to earn about what natural gas transmission and distribution companies have been doing to mitigate methane emissions, what the specific challenges are, and what opportunities have been identified and are being explored for the future

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Christine Cinnamon

Executive Director, CEPEI
Canadian Gas Association

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Kari-Lynn Reed

Sr. Advisor, Decarbonization Strategy and Emissions Management
ATCO Gas

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Edwin Makkinga

Manager, Carbon Policy
Enbridge

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Andy Collard

Manager, Emissions Management
TC Energy

Sustainable investment is increasingly becoming a priority for financial institutions, and it is imperative that the oil and gas industry understands the criterion from which they are assessing viable investment and partnership opportunities. In total, an estimated $100 billion in investment is required by 2030 to deploy all methane abatement measures in the Oil & Gas sector, necessitating a concerted effort from both financial institutions and industry to align investment strategies with abatement goals. Additionally, with insurers poised as key stakeholders of the organizations they underwrite, it is key that an open line of communication is established regarding expectations and perceived risks as we move forward with the low-carbon transition. Hear from the experts themselves to:

 

  • Understand expectations related to the criteria and metrics utilized to assess investment and partnership opportunities
  • Gain a clear picture of underwriting criteria and available resources to support clients in adopting new technologies
  • Explore how investors perceive methane emissions mitigation not merely as a risk management strategy but as an avenue to unlock hidden value and promote long-term sustainability
  • Discover the potential for innovative solutions and technologies to catalyze positive financial outcomes
  • Discuss what companies can do to restore confidence in emissions reporting and mitigation plans
  • Debate what investors regard as best practice for methane emissions reporting and mitigation
  • Explore what methane data investors are using today, and what will they require in future?
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Amy West

Managing Director, Global Head of ESG
TD Securities

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Jennifer Coulson

Senior Managing Director & Global Head of ESG
BCI

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Blake Wickland

Director
Methane Emissions Leadership Alliance (MELA)

5:20 pm - 5:25 pm Chair’s’ Closing Remarks, Day One Concludes

Blake Wickland - Director, Methane Emissions Leadership Alliance (MELA)
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Blake Wickland

Director
Methane Emissions Leadership Alliance (MELA)

5:40 pm - 6:40 pm Networking Reception for All Attendees, Speakers & Sponsors

Join your Methane Mitigation speakers, sponsors, and attendees for an evening full of laughter, great food and drinks. Immerse yourself in our expansive Expo Hall and make valuable connections with the top suppliers in the industry showcasing their latest solutions and services, while enjoying refreshments and lively conversation with fellow attendees. It’s your best opportunity this year to network with the best-connected methane leaders in Canada.