LEARN MORE ABOUT

Methane intensity target

OGCI member companies achieved their collective 2025 upstream methane intensity target of well below 0.2% in 2021 – four years early.

In 2023, OGCI member companies’ aggregate upstream operated methane intensity was 0.14%, a 5% decrease year-on-year and 54% lower compared with 2017.

Importantly, this improvement in intensity has translated into a 55% decrease in absolute upstream methane emissions since 2017.

In 2023, OGCI member companies’ total operated upstream methane emissions were 0.89 million tonnes.

With a 2025 target intensity of well below 0.20%, member companies launched a new Aiming for Zero Methane Emissions initiative in 2022, striving to reach near zero methane emissions from their operated assets by 2030, while sharing what they are learning about detection, measurement and reduction across the industry.

The methane intensity target introduced a standardized methodology, measuring the volume of methane emissions from member companies’ upstream oil and gas operations as a percentage of the volume of the total gas marketed. The 0.2% target it set is now frequently referenced as the industry standard to strive for.

Lessons learned

The target impacted the way companies address methane emissions in their operations in three key areas:

LEAKS: expand leak detection and repair campaigns and replace or upgrade high-emitting devices
FLARING: aim for zero routine flaring and improve flaring controls
VENTING: Reduce the need for safety venting in new and existing assets

OGCI activities

Tackling methane emissions

Join the Aiming for Zero Methane Emissions Initiative to support net zero.

Methane Emissions

Explore latest resources

OGCI publishes its Reporting Framework for 2024 data on emissions

August 22, 2025

The Oil and Gas Climate Initiative (OGCI) today published its updated Reporting Framework in line with its commitment to provide transparent, credible data on its member companies’ aggregated progress on OGCI ambitions to reduce emissions.

Find out more

The Methane Guiding Principles

July 2, 2025

The Methane Guiding Principles focus on five priority areas for action to reduce methane emissions across the natural gas supply chain.

Find out more

OGCI, Ipieca and IOGP Methane Recommended Practices Guide

April 24, 2025

The three organizations collaborated on the project as eliminating methane emissions from the upstream oil and gas industry represents one of the best short-term opportunities for contributing to climate change mitigation and for advancing the goals of the Paris Agreement

Find out more