Methane Emissions Intensity Targets Adopted by Natural Gas Producers

Over the past several months, two natural gas producers, as well as an international oil and gas coalition, have announced methane emissions intensity targets. These entities join the ONE Future Coalition in committing to meet an intensity target. Methane emissions intensity refers to the leak rate of gas production, or the ratio of methane emissions to natural gas produced. Organizations set methane emissions intensity targets with a goal of minimizing leaks of methane, a potent greenhouse gas.

This Issue Brief reviews guidance developed by the Environmental Defense Fund for establishing a methane emissions intensity target, summarizes intensity targets established by Shell and BP, and reviews intensity targets agreed to by ONE Future and the Oil and Gas Climate Initiative. Net methane emissions from natural gas systems, as reported in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory, were about 1.30 percent of U.S. natural gas production in 2016.