Mission Critical Methane

The report identifies methane emissions from the oil and gas sector as a critical near-term climate risk and opportunity. It proposes a strategic framework based on emissions visibility, policy action, market activation, and accountability to drive the industry toward 'near-zero' leakage. Key recommendations include the adoption of low-methane procurement standards by governments and utilities, the use of third-party certifications like MiQ, and the implementation of policies to plug marginal wells. The document highlights recent regulatory moves in the U.S. and EU, and international initiatives like the MMRV and CLEAN frameworks, as essential steps to tip global gas markets toward low-emissions supplies.

• Methane emissions from the oil and gas sector are substantial, with the IEA reporting over 80 million tons leaking annually, which is equivalent to the annual emissions of 1.4 billion passenger vehicles.
• Reducing methane emissions in the oil and gas sector is highly cost-effective; the IEA estimates that 40%–60% of these emissions can be reduced at zero net cost based on 2022 gas prices.
• A methane intensity threshold of below 0.2% is emerging as a consensus target for scientists, governments, and industry to define low-leakage gas systems.
• Marginal wells—those producing less than 15 barrels of oil or 90 million cubic feet of gas per day—are a disproportionate source of emissions, accounting for an estimated 11% of methane emissions in the US GHG Inventory.
• The European Union has implemented a law effective in 2030 that limits methane emissions from imported oil and gas, requiring operators to report emissions at the source level and banning routine venting and flaring.
• International collaborations, specifically the US-led MMRV framework and the Japan-led CLEAN initiative, are working to establish global standards for measuring, monitoring, reporting, and verifying gas emissions to facilitate differentiated pricing.
• The US EPA's 2023 rule aims for a nearly 80% reduction in methane emissions compared to future expectations without the rule, introducing a 'Super Emitter Program' to detect large leaks using remote sensing.

APA

Conway, T., Gordon, D., & Guccione, L. (2024). Mission Critical Methane. RMI. https://rmi.org/wp-content/uploads/dlm_uploads/2024/02/low_methane_gas_policy_report.pdf

Chicago

Conway, TJ, Deborah Gordon, and Leia Guccione. Mission Critical Methane. RMI, 2024. https://rmi.org/wp-content/uploads/dlm_uploads/2024/02/low_methane_gas_policy_report.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Conway |first1=TJ |last2=Gordon |first2=Deborah |last3=Guccione |first3=Leia |title=Mission Critical Methane |publisher=RMI |date=February 2024 |url=https://rmi.org/wp-content/uploads/dlm_uploads/2024/02/low_methane_gas_policy_report.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{conway2024mission, author = {Conway, TJ and Gordon, Deborah and Guccione, Leia}, title = {{Mission Critical Methane}}, institution = {RMI}, year = {2024}, month = feb, url = {https://rmi.org/wp-content/uploads/dlm_uploads/2024/02/low_methane_gas_policy_report.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }