5 Facts to Know About Reducing Methane from Oil and Gas

Methane is a potent climate pollutant responsible for 30 percent of the earth's temperature rise since the Industrial era. In the oil and gas sector, methane leakage can make natural gas as damaging as coal in the near term, with some US Gulf of Mexico offshore platforms showing leakage rates up to 66 percent. Despite the fact that many leaks can be repaired cost-effectively, the document notes that companies are not moving quickly enough, particularly in the US Permian Basin. The author advocates for mandatory requirements and the expanded use of aerial and satellite detection to increase transparency and enforce standards.

• Methane has a significantly higher warming potential than carbon dioxide in the short term, with one ton of methane equivalent to over 80 tons of CO2 over a 20-year period. It is responsible for 0.5°C of the Earth's current 1.1°C temperature rise.
• Natural gas leakage can negate its role as a transition fuel; a leakage rate of just 0.2 percent makes its net greenhouse gas emissions forcing for near-term warming comparable to coal. Actual measured leakage rates vary widely, reaching as high as 66 percent for offshore platforms in the US Gulf of Mexico.
• Reducing methane leaks is technically feasible and cost-effective, as leaked methane represents lost product. However, industry adoption is slow, with the US Permian Basin identified as having an outsized amount of leakage, suggesting that mandatory requirements are necessary rather than relying solely on voluntary certification.
• Remote sensing and aerial detection, particularly satellites, are critical for identifying 'super-emitting' facilities and providing the transparency needed for regulators to enforce standards and for investors to make financial decisions.

APA

RMI (2023). 5 Facts to Know About Reducing Methane from Oil and Gas. https://rmi.org/resources/5-facts-to-know-about-reducing-methane-from-oil-and-gas/

Chicago

RMI. 5 Facts to Know About Reducing Methane from Oil and Gas. 2023. https://rmi.org/resources/5-facts-to-know-about-reducing-methane-from-oil-and-gas/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=RMI |title=5 Facts to Know About Reducing Methane from Oil and Gas |date=20 November 2023 |url=https://rmi.org/resources/5-facts-to-know-about-reducing-methane-from-oil-and-gas/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{rmi2023facts, author = {{RMI}}, title = {{5 Facts to Know About Reducing Methane from Oil and Gas}}, institution = {RMI}, year = {2023}, month = nov, url = {https://rmi.org/resources/5-facts-to-know-about-reducing-methane-from-oil-and-gas/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }