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Methane emissions reduction and enabling technologies
Our commitment to reducing our methane emissions
Natural gas production and methane emissions
We are a major natural gas producer, with activities spanning the United States, Papua New Guinea, Qatar and Australia to a world class future development in Mozambique. Natural gas plays a vital role in satisfying the energy needs of consumers worldwide while helping to mitigate the risks of climate change. It is a versatile, cleaner burning fuel that can help power modern life with fewer emissions when compared to coal. We’re committed to helping meet the demand for affordable energy through natural gas, while advancing climate solutions.
AIMING FOR ZERO METHANE EMISSIONS
Methane has met its match
Focus on flaring
Our plan to reduce operated greenhouse gas emissions intensity includes a 60 – 70% reduction in corporate-wide flaring intensity by 2030 compared to 2016 levels.
We are further reducing flaring in upstream operations and are on track to achieve zero routine flaring across our global upstream operated assets by 2030 in support of the World Bank’s Zero Routine Flaring Initiative. We’ve already accomplished this in the Permian Basin – home to almost half of our net oil and gas production in the U.S.
Reducing greenhouse gas emissions
Natural gas emits up to 60% less greenhouse gases and significantly fewer air pollutants than coal, but unintended methane leaks can make their way into the atmosphere during the production, storage and transportation of oil and gas.
Reducing methane emissions constitutes a key part of our “Net Zero by 2050” greenhouse gas emission ambition, as detailed in our Advancing Climate Solutions Progress Report. In the Permian Basin that spans southeast New Mexico and West Texas, we have laid out a roadmap to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions (Scope 1 & 2) by 2030; our ambition is to bring all operated oil and gas assets to net zero by 2050. As part of this roadmap, we’re undertaking efforts to reduce methane emissions from our Permian unconventional operations by deploying the latest technologies, upgrading equipment and facilities, and investing in best practices. These efforts are being validated by an independent third-party in a pilot certification program at a portion of our Permian Basin facilities in New Mexico. Achieving net-zero emissions in the Permian Basin will be a major contributor to the Company’s efforts to support a lower-emission future. Oil and natural gas production from this region accounts for almost half of our net U.S. production.
What we're doing to help reduce our methane emissions
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Detection technology
Learn moreTechnology solutions are essential in addressing climate change, including methane emissions.
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Regulation and reporting
We support strong measurement, reporting, and verification standards as part of a broad suite of regulations to help reduce methane emissions.Learn more -
Natural gas certification
Learn moreCertifying natural gas to help validate methane emissions reductions.