Fuel report
Methane Tracker 2021
Helping tackle the urgent global challenge of reducing methane leaks
Methane abatement
Methane abatement technologies include equipment and operational techniques that can be applied across oil and gas value chains to reduce emissions.
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Methane has a much shorter atmospheric lifetime than CO2 but is a much more potent greenhouse gas. The energy sector is a major anthropogenic source of methane, second to agriculture. Approximately 72 Mt of methane was emitted from oil and gas operations in 2020, split roughly between the two. An additional 42 Mt methane released from coal mines the same year.
While methane emissions are diffuse and highly variable, making the magnitude of emissions uncertain, abatement technologies are reasonably well known. The challenge is to incentivise the deployment of these abatement technologies via voluntary or regulatory means.
IEA analysis focuses on equipment and operational techniques that can be applied across oil and gas value chains to reduce emissions. These technologies can mitigate methane emissions that occur by accident or by design.
For example, leak detection and repair programs are an effective way to reduce fugitive leaks in up and downstream stages. Vapour recovery units can be installed over crude oil and condensate storage tanks to reduce direct venting of methane to the atmosphere. Gas-driven devices that continuously release small amounts of methane can be replaced with low- or zero-emitting devices throughout oil and gas systems.
While methane emissions are diffuse and highly variable, making the magnitude of emissions uncertain, abatement technologies are reasonably well known. The challenge is to incentivise the deployment of these abatement technologies via voluntary or regulatory means.
IEA analysis focuses on equipment and operational techniques that can be applied across oil and gas value chains to reduce emissions. These technologies can mitigate methane emissions that occur by accident or by design.
For example, leak detection and repair programs are an effective way to reduce fugitive leaks in up and downstream stages. Vapour recovery units can be installed over crude oil and condensate storage tanks to reduce direct venting of methane to the atmosphere. Gas-driven devices that continuously release small amounts of methane can be replaced with low- or zero-emitting devices throughout oil and gas systems.
Last updated Jan 7, 2022
Key findings
Oil and gas sector methane emissions, historical and in the Sustainable Development Scenario, 2000-2030
OpenDrop in methane emissions from oil and gas industry in 2020 due mainly to lower production rather than prevention of leaks
Oil and gas operations worldwide emitted over 70 million tonnes of methane into the atmosphere in 2020. Converted into equivalent amounts of CO2, assuming that one tonne of methane is equivalent to 30 tonnes of CO2, these methane emissions are comparable to the total energy-related CO2 emissions of the European Union.
This methane emissions figure for 2020 is around 10% lower than estimates for 2019. A large portion of this drop occurred because of the fall in oil and gas production over the course of the year – especially in countries and regions where production has a high emissions intensity.
Oil and gas sector methane emissions in the Net Zero and Announced Pledges scenarios, 2015-2030
OpenAction on methane is one of the most effective steps the energy sector can take to mitigate climate change
Fossil fuel operations generated nearly one-third of all methane emissions from human activity. Action on methane is therefore one of the most effective steps the energy sector can take to mitigate climate change. Global methane emissions from oil and gas operations are likely to rebound in 2021. Conversely, the Net Zero Emissions by 2050 Scenario requires that total methane emissions from fossil fuel operations fall around 75% between 2020 and 2030.
Considering average natural gas prices from 2017-2021, almost 45% of current methane emissions from oil and gas operations could be avoided with measures that would have no net cost. Policymakers have at their disposal well-established policy tools that have already been demonstrated in multiple contexts to drive these emissions reductions, for instance Leak Detection and Repair (LDAR) requirements, staple technology standards and a ban on non-emergency flaring and venting.
Analysis
Technology report
Driving Down Methane Leaks from the Oil and Gas Industry
A Regulatory Roadmap and Toolkit
Fuel report
The energy security case for tackling gas flaring and methane leaks
Fuel report
Global Methane Tracker 2022
Tracking report
Methane Emissions from Oil and Gas
Tracking progress 2021
Fuel report
Curtailing Methane Emissions from Fossil Fuel Operations
Pathways to a 75% Cut by 2030
Commentary
The case for regulating downstream methane emissions from oil and gas
Article
Investigating methane emission control
Part of Today in the Lab - Tomorrow in Energy?
Reports
Events
31 May 2022 15:00—16:30
Driving down methane emissions from fossil fuel operations in Latin America
30 Mar 2022 10:00—12:00
Driving down methane emissions from fossil fuel operations in China
02 Nov 2021 14:00—15:00
IEA at COP26: Launch of Global Methane Pledge
7 Oct 2021
