Fuel report
Methane Tracker 2020
Reducing the environmental impact of oil and gas supply is a pivotal element of global energy transitions
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 79 Mt of methane was emitted from oil and gas operations in 2018, split roughly between the two. An additional 40 Mt methane released from coal mines last 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 Jun 16, 2020
Key findings
Oil and gas sector methane emissions 2000-2030 in the Sustainable Development Scenario
OpenMethane emissions from the oil and gas sector remain high despite initial industry-led initiatives and government policies
Methane emissions are the second-largest cause of global warming today. Methane emissions come from a range of anthropogenic and natural sources; within the energy sector, from oil, natural gas, coal and bioenergy. The IEA estimates that the oil and gas sector emitted 82 Mt (around 2.5 GtCO2-eq) in 2019. While methane tends to receive less attention than CO2, reducing methane emissions will be critical to avoid the worst effects of climate change. Emissions remain high despite initial industry-led initiatives, government policies and regulations, as implementing abatement options quickly and at scale remains a challenge. Policies will be critical to achieve the 75% emissions reduction by 2030 demonstrated in the SDS, but further innovation and support are needed to better understand emissions levels, make leak detection and repair more consistent, and reduce the overall cost of emissions mitigation programmes.
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