Taking offshore methane measurements to new levels
Understanding and addressing methane emissions is an important step toward net zero, but traditional methodologies of reporting emissions at source level are under increasing scrutiny.
Read more
Working towards near zero methane emissions from oil and gas is a top priority for OGCI. Our objective is to help achieve near-zero methane emissions across the oil and gas industry and along the full gas value chain.
Methane is far more potent as a greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide, but it stays in the atmosphere for a shorter time. That means preventing, detecting and eliminating methane emissions now can result in an important near-term reduction in the pace of global warming, supporting other decarbonization efforts.
Eliminating methane emissions from the upstream oil and gas industry represents one of the best short-term opportunities for contributing to climate change mitigation.
What OGCI is doing
Aiming for near zero methane emissions
OGCI launched the Aiming for Zero Methane Emissions Initiative in 2022 to encourage the whole industry to eliminate its methane footprint by 2030. Adopting a near zero methane emissions mindset has helped OGCI member companies to accelerate the pace of reduction using existing and emerging technologies.
We met our initial 2025 upstream methane intensity target in 2020 and reached 0.17% in 2021. Absolute upstream methane emissions have fallen by 40% from 2017 to 2021.
OGCI’s 2025 methane intensity target
OGCI met its initial 2025 upstream methane intensity target in 2020 and is now aiming for well below 0.20%. Adopting a near zero methane emissions mindset has helped member companies to accelerate the pace of reduction using existing and emerging technologies. Absolute upstream methane emissions have fallen by 35% since 2017.
OGCI’s 2025 methane intensity ambition
Expanding our impact on methane emissions
Our long-term objective is to help achieve near-zero methane emissions across the oil and gas industry and along the full gas value chain. We are collaborating broadly to improve data availability and share our knowledge with other companies.
Enhancing data availability
- Working with GHGSat to finance the detection of methane emissions from the oil and gas industry in four countries, and working with the Global Methane Alliance and local stakeholders to facilitate emissions mitigation.
- Partnering with the Payne Institute for Public Policy at Colorado School of Mines to develop a transparent web platform to support real-time mapping and tracking of global gas flaring data, under the umbrella of the World Bank led Global Gas Flaring Reduction Partnership.
- Providing funding through the UN Climate & Clean Air Coalition (CCAC) for Stanford University’s work to update the Global Methane Budget
- Supporting the Methane Science Studies alongside CCAC and the Environmental Defense Fund to increase scientific knowledge and understanding of methane emissions from the oil and gas industry
- Joint project with IOGP and IPIECA to support the deployment of existing and emerging technologies for methane detection and quantification.
Expanding our outreach
- Launched the Aiming for Zero Methane Emissions Initiative to get the oil and industry to treat methane emissions as seriously as safety.
- Encouraging governments to implement effective policies that reduce methane emissions, including absolute or intensity reduction targets, working through the Global Methane Alliance.
- Funding and supporting the Methane Guiding Principles initiative, which brings together companies, NGOs, multilateral institutions and academics to reduce emissions across the full value chain.
- European member companies collaborated with the Environmental Defense Fund, Rocky Mountain Institute, Wintershall and the Florence School of Regulation to deliver methane policy recommendations for the European Union, covering the full natural gas value chain.
- Through its methane investment call, Climate Investments solicitated innovative projects that can demonstrate a significant near-term impact on methane emissions at any point in the oil and gas value chain.
What OGCI member companies are doing to reduce methane emissions
Member companies are expanding leak detection and repair campaigns, removing high-emitting devices, and reducing both flaring and venting.
TotalEnergies and Qnergy remove 98% of vented methane emissions
Across many of the world’s natural gas production fields, gas pneumatic devices used for process control and chemical injection vent methane directly into the air.
EXXONMOBIL – Methane management in unconventional operations
ExxonMobil is progressing a comprehensive methane management programme which is on track to meet its goal of reducing methane emissions by 15% in 2020, compared to 2016.
REPSOL – New generation membrane technology reduces emissions
In 2018, Repsol introduced a comprehensive set of internal metrics, targets and action plans to ensure meaningful progress towards climate change mitigation.
SAUDI ARAMCO – Getting results with leak detection and repair
Saudi Aramco’s leak detection and repair programme, enables the mitigation of fugitive leaks, one of the largest sources of methane emissions in the industry.
ENI – Investing in flaring reduction
Having reduced upstream operated carbon intensity by 20% since 2014, Eni is on track to achieve its company target of 43% reduction by 2025.
CNPC – Tackling methane emissions
Reducing upstream methane emissions from oil and gas operations is an important component of CNPC’s Green Action Plan
BP – Mapping and capping methane emissions with Kairos Aerospace
bp has pledged to measure its methane emissions by 2023 and has enlisted Kairos to conduct aerial surveys.
What OGCI Climate Investments is doing to reduce methane emissions
We invest in solutions that reduce methane emissions during the production, delivery and usage of oil and gas.
F2V
A flare gas capture project in Oman with an affiliate of Flare2Value International Ltd (F2V) targets emissions reduction by eliminating methane slip at the flare and improving energy efficiency by using previously flared gas as fuel.
Andium
Andium is an Industrial Internet of Things company providing remote-field monitoring and communications technology that allows oil and gas companies to continuously monitor flaring activity and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Urbint
Urbint’s methane abatement technology leverages AI in predicting and stopping threats to critical infrastructure and workers.
GHGSat
GHGSat provides accurate, low-cost greenhouse gas monitoring data and services covering any facility in the world.
Kairos Aerospace
Kairos Aerospace provides actionable data on major sources of methane emissions from aerial surveys.
SeekOps
SeekOps develops and fields advanced sensor technology for the energy sector to detect, localize, and quantify natural gas emissions through integrated drone-based systems.
Clarke Valve
Clarke Valve is the exclusive manufacturer of the Dilating Disk™ Valve, a next generation control valve with patented stem-seal technology that reduces fugitive emissions by 98%.
Kelvin
Kelvin delivers safe, secure and smart control of physical systems, utilizing AI to revolutionize complex system control. Through this platform, Kelvin is helping Oil & Gas companies improve economic performance and achieve positive environmental impact.
Qnergy
Qnergy provides remote power solutions to help companies improve operational efficiency and reduce emissions. One of the leading applications is instrument air solutions to displace methane emissions from pneumatic devices.
