As climate urgency intensifies, methane emissions have become a significant focus for policy makers worldwide, particularly in the oil and gas industry. In 2024, substantial regulatory developments unfolded, reshaping how methane leaks are monitored, quantified, and mitigated.
United States Updates Detailed Guidelines, Imposes Fines, and Looks to The Sky
In the US, several major policy updates took effect in 2024, driving the O&G sector to adopt advanced technologies that will accelerate the speed and efficiency of methane leak detection and remediation.
One of the most pivotal changes was the EPA’s update to the New Source Performance Standards (NSPS). NSPS Subpart OOOOb requires stringent methane emissions control and monitoring for oil and gas sites constructed, reconstructed, or modified after December 6, 2022. It mandates, for example, quarterly inspections using advanced leak detection technologies, like satellites. Subpart OOOOc instructed states to create their own rigorous regulations by December 2024, and these are expected to exceed federal guidelines.
Operators are now required to maintain detailed records of emissions for at least 5 years. They will need to be in line with recent updates to Subpart W of the GHG Reporting Program regarding quantification methods and technologies.
In addition, the Waste Emissions Charge (WEC) was in full force this year. Facilities exceeding the cap can soon expect fines of $900 per ton of CO2e emitted during 2024. In 2025, the penalties will almost double.
Finally, the Super Emitter Program established a new industry standard by leveraging satellite-based technology for methane detection, signaling a shift in government preference and acceptance of using broad-coverage, automated, high-resolution monitoring tools.
European Union’s New Methane Regulation Reaches Upstream
Beyond the U.S., methane regulations have taken a global turn with the European Union's Methane Emissions Regulation (EUMR), effective as of August of 2024.
The EU’s new rules target methane emissions across the entire supply chain, including source point production. For U.S. hydrocarbon exporters, this means heightened scrutiny over methane emissions in upstream operations, and further incentivization to adopt advanced leak detection, quantification, and reporting technologies, like Momentick, to meet both domestic and international compliance standards.
For EU sourced hydrocarbons, operators should already have their Monitoring, Measurement, Reporting, and Verification (MMRV) technologies online and integrated with their ESG procedures. Following a quick ramp up, by February 2026 they are required to quantify methane emissions using direct measurement, not estimations.
For imported hydrocarbons, any contracts renewed or beginning August 2024 will need to maintain MMRV standards equivalent to the EUMR, and deliver the results by January 2027. In the interim, starting May 2025, operators importing into the EU will be required to disclose the extent to which they are measuring emissions, along with the name of an independent third-party verifier responsible for confirming this data.
Satellite-Based Emissions Intelligence: The Key to Cost-Effective Global Compliance
The increasing complexity of global methane regulation, combined with tighter oversight and multiple reporting requirements, has created a need for more efficient, scalable, and affordable emissions monitoring solutions.
Satellite-based technologies offer several advantages over traditional leak detection methods. They provide a broad, real-time view of emissions across vast geographic areas, making it easier to monitor methane leaks in remote locations, over long pipelines, or at facilities with dozens of wellheads. For this reason, the US government chose satellites as the basis for the Super Emitter Program - it is the most effective way to get the intel they need. But operators don’t need to wait to get fined.
One platform can easily provide a comprehensive overview of an entire company’s assets within a few days. With zero integrations or installations, compliance can be assured years in advance of the law, with continuous, verifiable data ready for reporting and compliance audits.
Automated satellite-based monitoring of predefined assets also means near real-time detection, reliable quantification and swift prioritization. Field teams can be rapidly and efficiently deployed to actual leaks, instead of roaming hundreds of perfectly operating wellheads. In addition, multi-satellite solutions offer quick return visits to prove that remediation occurred within the short timeframes allowed.
As oil and gas operators navigate the evolving complexities of GHG reporting and compliance, integrating an advanced intelligence platform offers many additional benefits. Operators will also achieve cost savings through improved operational efficiency, enhance stakeholder approval through environmental stewardship and transparency, and boost revenue by recovering lost natural gas.