The five Methane Guiding Principles focus on priority areas for action to reduce methane emissions across the natural gas supply chain. They were developed collaboratively in 2017 by a coalition of industry and civil society organisations.
1. Continually reduce methane emissions
- We establish and maintain plans to systematically monitor and reduce methane emissions from identified sources in our existing operated assets, and we will prioritise higher emitting operations. We incorporate the management of methane emissions in maintenance plans, and the design and construction of our new projects. We encourage these actions in non-operated assets.
- We will reduce venting, and fugitive methane emissions, and improve combustion efficiency. We implement systematic leak detection and repair programmes, prioritising potential higher emitting sources.
- We implement and continue to develop effective technologies and practices for monitoring and reducing methane emissions and consider them in our project engineering and design.
- We provide financial and operational support for the development and deployment of innovative technologies and approaches that monitor and reduce methane emissions.
3. Improve accuracy of methane emissions data
- In operated assets, we continuously improve methane emissions data collection methodologies to improve the accuracy of methane emissions data.
- We will support research that improves the accuracy of the quantification of methane emissions, and make progress towards verifiable reductions.
5. Increase transparency
- We provide information in our relevant external reports on methane emissions data, methodologies used to derive these data, and progress and challenges in methane emissions management.
- We contribute towards the standardisation of comparable external methane reporting, thereby simplifying the reporting process, which may encourage others to participate.
2. Advance strong performance across the gas supply chain
- Given that it is necessary to understand methane emissions across the whole natural gas supply chain, we seek to engage with upstream, midstream and downstream participants to undertake studies to that end.
- Through industry partnerships, trade associations and proactive stakeholder engagement, we work to help improve approaches to and the application of robust methane emissions management, including sound estimation, detection and abatement practices, as well as robust reporting as defined in Principle 5.
4. Advocate sound policy and regulations on methane emissions
- We advocate for sound methane policies and regulations that incentivise early action, drive performance improvements, facilitate proper enforcement, and support flexibility and innovation.
- We work constructively with international institutions, governments, industry and NGOs in the development and implementation of effective methane abatement policies or regulations.
1. Continually reduce methane emissions
We establish and maintain plans to systematically monitor and reduce methane emissions from identified sources in our existing operated assets, and we will prioritise higher emitting operations. We incorporate the management of methane emissions in maintenance plans, and the design and construction of our new projects. We encourage these actions in non-operated assets.
We will reduce venting, and fugitive methane emissions, and improve combustion efficiency. We implement systematic leak detection and repair programmes, prioritising potential higher emitting sources.
We implement and continue to develop effective technologies and practices for monitoring and reducing methane emissions and consider them in our project engineering and design.
We provide financial and operational support for the development and deployment of innovative technologies and approaches that monitor and reduce methane emissions.
2. Advance strong performance across the gas supply chains
Given that it is necessary to understand methane emissions across the whole natural gas supply chain, we seek to engage with upstream, midstream and downstream participants to undertake studies to that end.
Through industry partnerships, trade associations and proactive stakeholder engagement, we work to help improve approaches to and the application of robust methane emissions management, including sound estimation, detection and abatement practices, as well as robust reporting as defined in Principle 5.
3. Improve accuracy of methane emissions data
In operated assets, we continuously improve methane emissions data collection methodologies to improve the accuracy of methane emissions data.
We will support research that improves the accuracy of the quantification of methane emissions, and make progress towards verifiable reductions.
4. Advocate sound policy and regulations on methane emissions
We advocate for sound methane policies and regulations that incentivise early action, drive performance improvements, facilitate proper enforcement, and support flexibility and innovation.
We work constructively with international institutions, governments, industry and NGOs in the development and implementation of effective methane abatement policies or regulations.
5. Increase transparency
We provide information in our relevant external reports on methane emissions data, methodologies used to derive these data, and progress and challenges in methane emissions management.
We contribute towards the standardisation of comparable external methane reporting, thereby simplifying the reporting process, which may encourage others to participate.
Best Practice Guides
We have developed a series of Best Practice Guides to improve performance in methane emissions management across the natural gas supply chain.
Methane Library
A repository for information, tools and case studies relating to the management of methane within the oil and gas industry.