Future development of the upstream greenhouse gas emissions from natural gas industry, focussing on Russian gas fields and export pipelines

摘要: Natural gas makes an increasing contribution to the European Union's energy supply. Due its efficiency and low level of combustion emissions this reduces greenhouse compared use other fossil fuels. However, being itself a potent gas, high direct losses natural in process chain could neutralise these advantages. Which effect will finally prevail depends on future economical as well technical developments. Based two different scenarios main influencing factors we can conclude that over next decades CH4 from supply be significantly reduced, spite unfavourable developments structures. This, however, needs substantial, but economically attractive investment into new technology, particularly Russia.