What is the OGMP 2.0 Gold Standard and why you need it
The OGMP 2.0 (Oil and Gas Methane Partnership) framework is the global standard for measuring and reporting methane emissions in the oil and gas sector. Established by the United Nations Environment Programme and the Climate and Clean Air Coalition, it provides companies with a clear, structured, and achievable pathway to improve methane emissions monitoring, detection, and reporting. By setting rigorous reporting requirements across upstream, midstream and downstream operations, OGMP 2.0 effectively drives the industry towards curbing methane emissions.
Although not compulsory, adopting the OGMP 2.0 framework and achieving the “Gold Standard” is more than just about environmental responsibility—it’s a strategic business imperative.
With mandatory reporting laws on the horizon, aligning with OGMP 2.0 ensures operators are prepared to meet regulatory requirements in time. Enhanced methane monitoring not only boosts operational efficiency but also captures otherwise wasted natural gas, turning potential losses into economic gains. Additionally, the framework sets a benchmark for responsible ESG performance, satisfying investor and stakeholder demands for credibility, transparency, and action. With over 140 major O&G companies already participating, it also signals leadership, strengthens reputation, and secures the ‘social license to operate’ in an increasingly competitive landscape.
Understanding the 5 OGMP 2.0 reporting levels
OGMP 2.0 defines a progressive pathway for reporting methane emissions, structured into five levels that advance from general estimations to precise, measurement-based reporting.
Level 1: Broad Estimates
Emissions are reported as one aggregate figure for a group of assets in a region. Calculations rely on industry-standard emission factors, offering a high-level snapshot only. This level is for operations where very little data on the methane emissions situation is available. With today’s zero-integration satellite based-intelligence, no company need find itself stuck at this stage.
Level 2: Category Breakdown
Emissions are categorized based on five main types for upstream operations: venting, fugitive losses, flaring, energy/combustion, and other. For midstream and downstream, the categories are fugitive losses, venting, and incomplete combustion. Quantification typically relies on generic emission factors.
Levels 3, 4, and 5 involve reporting at the individual source level (e.g. pneumatic controllers, pumps, and storage tanks). The difference is the way in which estimations are made and substantiated.
Level 3: Generic Source-Level Estimations
Emissions estimation now pertains to individual assets and delineates all major source types within them. Although still using generic factors, the granular detail enhances transparency and paves the way to direct measurement with a clear inventory baseline.
Level 4: Measurement-Based Estimations
This is where direct measurements come in. Source-level measurements and sampling are done to establish tailored emission factors for specific sources. This level represents a significant step toward accuracy, integrating direct data collection with established methodologies.
Level 5: Comprehensive Site-Level Reconciliation
At Level 5, detailed source-level measurements (from Level 4) are combined and compared against site-level assessments in a process called reconciliation. The methodical process of repeatedly resolving differences between site-level emissions and the aggregate of sources within it continuously improves measurement and mitigation practices and ensures confidence in the reporting.
Satellite-based emissions intelligence comes into play again at Levels 4 and 5, providing pinpoint emission quantification over major components as well as a comprehensive site overview.
Gold Standard: Adhering to a timeline
The Gold Standard represents the highest level of methane emissions reporting, adding a strict timeline to the progressive improvement in measurement accuracy and transparency. To achieve Gold Standard for operated assets, companies have three years to reach Level 5, while non-operated assets are allowed up to five years. This phased approach acknowledges the complexity of operations and encourages steady progress without delaying action.
In the first year, companies must submit a report based on the previous year’s emissions data. Thanks to the global reach and historical databases of satellite-based solutions like Momentick, operators can retrieve and report past emissions even if they had not previously collected the data themselves.
Companies can also achieve “Gold Standard Pathway” status within their first two years by submitting a detailed, credible plan to meet the highest reporting levels (Levels 4 and 5). This plan must aim to advance ~30% of assets to Level 5 each year, and proof of action in that direction must be provided.
How Momentick's Satellite-based Emissions Intelligence Helps Companies Achieve OGMP 2.0 Gold Standard Compliance Status
Methane emissions monitoring under OGMP 2.0 is designed to account for the variability and uncertainty inherent in traditional measurement tools. These include challenges like temporal variations, human error, and the potential oversight of rare but significant events missed by periodic Leak Detection and Repair (LDAR) programs.
Recognizing these gaps, OGMP 2.0 emphasizes the need for a diversity of tools, specifically encouraging the integration of satellite data as a pivotal layer in emissions intelligence.
In its guidelines, OGMP 2.0 states that “satellite observations from individual point sources can be part of a multi-tiered monitoring approach that provides useful information to the OGMP 2.0 reconciliation process.” This positions satellite data as both a guiding tool for targeting specific areas and a complementary layer to asset, site, and source-level reconciliation.
By employing AI-driven analysis on multi-satellite arrays, Momentick puts an extremely unique and rare data source at the fingertips of O&G companies. With dynamic APIs, GeoTiff files, detailed databases and reports operators can smartly and efficiently focus other tools and amplify cost-effectiveness.
Key benefits of satellite-based emissions intelligence include:
Eliminating blind spots: Ground sensors often have limited coverage, whereas satellites offer a comprehensive view at multiple scales.
Immediate, hassle-free integration: Access high-precision data without hardware installations or complex integrations.
Actionable insights at optimal ROI: Beyond reporting, data enables cost-effective decision-making and targeted mitigation.
Historical benchmarking: Create an emissions baseline already in Year 1 and progress faster through OGMP 2.0 levels.
Non-operated asset monitoring: Gain insights into emissions from non-operated facilities, which are often challenging to track.
By leveraging satellite-based intelligence alongside operational and ground-level measurements, companies can achieve truly comprehensive methane emissions monitoring, detection, quantification, and reporting. This layered methodology not only fulfills the OGMP 2.0 framework but also empowers operators with the tools needed to optimize resources, build credibility, and lead in sustainability.
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