Methane Emissions

Methane is a potent Greenhouse Gas accounting for around 10% of total EU GHG emissions.

To maximize the benefits of natural gas as a partner to variable renewable energies and as a cleaner alternative to coal, our industry works to reduce methane emissions from its operations across the value chain.

At the global level, 41% of methane emissions come from natural sources (biogenic), and 59% are associated with human activity[1].

[1] EDGAR – Emissions Database for Global Atmospheric Research

EU anthropogenic methane emissions are formed from 53.2% agriculture, 26.9% waste, 12.8% energy and 6.8% others.

Source: European Environment Agency (EEA)

54% of EU energy sector methane emissions come from oil and gas operations, 34% come from coal operations and 11% from residential and other sectors.

Source: EU strategy to reduce methane emissions

Methane releases can occur along the oil and gas value chain for due to:

Flaring (burning) and or venting for operational safety or economic reasons.

Fugitive emissions due to unintentional leaks from pneumatic equipment, pipelines, wells, etc.

To maximize the benefits of natural gas as a partner to variable renewable energies and as a cleaner alternative to coal, our industry works to reduce methane emissions from its operations across the value chain.

Methane
quantification

Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification (MRV)

Methane reduction target setting

Leak Detection and Repair (LDAR)

Best Available Techniques

Some oil & gas industry initiatives

Oil and Gas Climate Initiative (OGCI)

methane intensity reduction target.

The World Bank’s Global Gas Flaring Reduction Partnership

which aims for 0 routine flaring by 2030.

Methane Guiding Principles

focusing on areas of action to reduce methane emissions.

The Oil and Gas Methane Partnership (OGMP 2.0)

reporting methodology created by the Climate and Clean Air Coalition in 2014.

IOGP welcomes EU plans to prevent methane leaks in the energy sector and the establishment of the International Methane Emissions Observatory. We call for a risk-based and flexible approach allowing companies to choose optimal technologies approach to detect and repair methane leaks.