Glossary

To support the industry and stakeholders in the use of consistent terminology, Ipieca, IOGP, GIE and MARCOGAZ prepared this methane emissions glossary covering the whole natural gas value chain.

Intended for policymakers and regulators working on methane regulation in Europe, this glossary will be updated to reflect new legislation and technologies.

Download the Methane Emissions Glossary

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There are currently 7 names in this directory beginning with the letter L.
L
Laser leak detection
Methods for locating potential methane emissions sources by using laser frequencies that are tuned to be absorbed or scattered by a target gas species. (Note - This technology allows operators to safely scan a facility and equipment from a distance provided the background provides appropriate reflective return of the laser signal. It also prevents operators from walking the entire length of a pipeline or service line, allowing them to stay in place and scan for leaks along the sight line).
Leak
Unintentional emission from pressurized equipment used in the gas industry. Leaks are usually caused by imperfections in or ordinary wear and tear of sealed joints, such as flange gaskets, screwed connections, valve-stem packing, or by poorly seated valves. Leaks can also come from the wall of a pressurized vessel or pipeline, as a result of corrosion or damage.
Leak Detection And Repair (LDAR)
A programme to identify and repair the equipment or infrastructure that can be a source of emissions due to leaks from pressurized equipment. It is often accomplished by a periodic inspection survey to identify leaks, followed by repair of any found leaks..
(Note - Within the LDAR programme, a variety of techniques can be employed for detecting the leaks. While LDAR in certain jurisdictions can have a specific regulatory definition, it is more generally used to describe the processes and systems by which leaking equipment is identified, prioritized and then repaired.)
Linepack
Storage of gas by compression in gas transmission and distribution systems, but not including facilities reserved for transmission system operators carrying out their functions. [1]
LNG storage
A facility used to provide storage of natural gas in liquefied form. These may exist in various locations along the gas supply chain, and may be used for the same purposes as other gas storage facilities.
LNG system operator
A natural or legal person who carries out the function of liquefaction of natural gas, exportation or the importation, offloading, and re-gasification of LNG and is responsible for operating a LNG facility. [1]
LNG terminal/facility
An asset which is used either for the liquefaction of natural gas, exportation, or for the importation, offloading, and re-gasification of LNG, and includes ancillary services and temporary storage necessary for the re-gasification process and subsequent delivery to the transmission system, but does not include any part of LNG terminals used for storage. [1]

References

[1] Directive 2009/73/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 July 2009

[2] EN-12186 – Gas infrastructure – Gas pressure regulating stations for transmission and distribution – Functional requirements

[3] EN-12327 – Gas infrastructure – Pressure testing, commissioning and decommissioning procedures – Functional requirements

[4] EN-12583 – Gas Infrastructure – Compressor stations – Functional requirements

[5] EN-15446 – Fugitive and diffuse emissions of common concern to industry sectors – Measurement of fugitive emission of vapours generating equipment and piping leaks

[6] GIE & MARCOGAZ Report “Potential ways the gas industry can contribute to the reduction of methane emissions” https://www.gie.eu/index.php/gie-publications/methane-emissions/methaneemission-report-2019/27786-gie-marcogaz-report-for-the-madrid-forum-potentialway-gas-industry-can-contribute-to-the-reduction-of-methane-emissions/file

[7] IPIECA/API/IOGP (2020). Oil and gas industry guidance on voluntary sustainability reporting https://www.ipieca.org/media/5105/ipieca_sustainability-guide_2020_glossary.pdf

[8] IPIECA Methane Glossary http://www.ipieca.org/resources/awareness-briefing/methane-glossary/

[9] ISO 14532 – Natural gas — Vocabulary

[10] JCGM-100 – Evaluation of measurement data – Guide to the expression of uncertainty in measurement. s.l.: Committee for Guides in Metrology (JCGM/WG 1), 2008

[11] MARCOGAZ – Assessment of methane emissions for gas Transmission and Distribution system operators, 2019 https://www.marcogaz.org/app/download/8161672063/WG_ME-485- Assessment+of+methane+emissions+for+gas+Transmission+and+Distribution+system+ operator.pdf?t=1602849054

[12] MARCOGAZ – Guidance for using the MARCOGAZ methane emissions reporting template – DSO, TSO, LNG receiving terminals and UGS https://www.marcogaz.org/app/download/8271109963/WG_ME710.pdf?t=1606988780

[13] MGP Reducing methane emissions: Equipment leaks https://methaneguidingprinciples.org/best-practice-guides/equipment-leaks/

[14] MGP Reducing methane emissions: Identification, detection, measurement and quantification https://methaneguidingprinciples.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/ReducingMethane-Emissions_Identification-Detection-Measurement-andQuantification_Guide.pdf

[15] MGP Reducing methane emissions: Transmission, storage, LNG terminals and distribution https://methaneguidingprinciples.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/ReducingMethane-Emissions-transmission-storage-LNG-terminals-and-distribution-Guide.pdf

[16] Oil and Gas Methane Partnership Technical Guidance Documents https://ccacoalition.org/en/content/oil-and-gas-methane-partnership-technicalguidance-documents

[17] Regulation (EC) No 715/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 July 2009

[18] US EPA – ‘Method 21: Determination of volatile organic compound leaks’