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 launches methane library to help oil and gas industry reduce emissions

February 12, 2025

OGCI’s methane library contains over 150 key resources to help enable oil and gas companies reduce methane emissions.

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Results of OGCI Satellite Monitoring Campaign 2022-2023 over Kazakhstan, Algeria and Egypt

March 25, 2024

Results from the Oil and Gas Climate Initiative’s latest Satellite Monitoring Campaign (SMC) show that a systematic effort to raise awareness, deploy new technologies and engagement can support local operators mitigate methane emissions at scale. OGCI’s 2022-2023 campaign over Algeria, Kazakhstan and Egypt has already helped local operators eliminate methane emissions, according to a new report.

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Statement of Intent: Helping Local Oil and Gas Operators to Operationalize Methane & Flaring Commitments

December 2, 2023

The International Association of Oil and Gas Producers, Methane Guiding Principles, OGCI and Environmental Defense Fund announced their intention to build a framework to share expertise to help companies reduce methane emissions and flaring in line with the Oil & Gas Decarbonization Charter ambitions.

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The Oil and Gas Climate Initiative is a CEO-led organization bringing together 12 of the largest oil and gas companies worldwide to lead the industry’s response to climate change.

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Path to Net Zero

OGCI Progress