A guide to monitoring and quantifying methane emissions from the oil and gas sector

The document discusses the critical need to reduce anthropogenic methane emissions, particularly from the oil and gas sector, to limit global warming. It details a transition from 'bottom-up' estimation methods to 'top-down' monitoring using ground-based, airborne, and spaceborne instruments. The authors advocate for globally recognised testing standards, integrated observing systems, and robust reporting protocols to support smart regulation. It highlights that the oil and gas industry could eliminate nearly 75% of its global methane emissions using existing technologies at little to no cost, and notes emerging regulations in regions including North America, Europe, Nigeria, and Colombia.

• Methane is a potent greenhouse gas with more than 80 times the warming power of carbon dioxide over a 20-year period and is responsible for 0.5°C of the warming experienced since pre-industrial times.
• The oil and gas industry accounts for 21% of all anthropogenic methane emissions, which occur through intentional releases (venting and flaring) and unintentional leaks from equipment like valves and storage tanks.
• Traditional 'bottom-up' emission calculations, based on equipment counts and generic emission factors, are often inaccurate because they are outdated and fail to account for malfunctions or maintenance.
• Modern monitoring tools are categorized into three tiers: ground-based (e.g., infrared gas imaging cameras), airborne (e.g., drones and aircraft with spectroscopic cameras), and spaceborne (e.g., multispectral and hyperspectral satellites).
• While satellite technology allows for independent monitoring of facilities without site access, it currently has high minimum detection limits (100-500 kg per hour) and cannot detect emissions at night or through clouds.
• The International Energy Agency (IEA) suggests that the oil and gas industry can eliminate nearly 75% of global methane emissions using current technologies at little to no cost, a prospect made more profitable by higher gas prices.
• Several countries and regions are implementing new methane regulations: Nigeria and Colombia have regulated their sectors, Mexico is planning to eliminate routine venting and flaring, the US aims for an 87% reduction by 2030 from 2005 levels, and Canada targets a 75% reduction below 2012 levels by 2030.

APA

Binietoglou, I., Turitto, J., & Sosa, Z. T. (2023). A guide to monitoring and quantifying methane emissions from the oil and gas sector. Clean Air Task Force. https://www.catf.us/2023/02/guide-monitoring-quantifying-methane-emissions-oil-gas-sector/

Chicago

Binietoglou, Ioannis, James Turitto, and Zitely Tzompa Sosa. A guide to monitoring and quantifying methane emissions from the oil and gas sector. Clean Air Task Force, 2023. https://www.catf.us/2023/02/guide-monitoring-quantifying-methane-emissions-oil-gas-sector/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Binietoglou |first1=Ioannis |last2=Turitto |first2=James |last3=Sosa |first3=Zitely Tzompa |title=A guide to monitoring and quantifying methane emissions from the oil and gas sector |publisher=Clean Air Task Force |date=28 February 2023 |url=https://www.catf.us/2023/02/guide-monitoring-quantifying-methane-emissions-oil-gas-sector/ |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{binietoglou2023guide, author = {Binietoglou, Ioannis and Turitto, James and Sosa, Zitely Tzompa}, title = {{A guide to monitoring and quantifying methane emissions from the oil and gas sector}}, institution = {Clean Air Task Force}, year = {2023}, month = feb, url = {https://www.catf.us/2023/02/guide-monitoring-quantifying-methane-emissions-oil-gas-sector/}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }