Skip to main content

Publications

Best Practice Guidance for Effective Methane Management in the Oil and Gas Sector

The document provides guidance for developing and implementing effective practices for monitoring, reporting and verifying (MRV) methane emissions from the oil and gas sector. It also provides guidance on remediation practices. The document is meant to serve as a resource for a broad audience, including owners and operators of oil and gas facilities and policymakers at all levels of government. Its discussion of MRV and mitigation opportunities is intentionally “principles-based”, recognizing that conditions vary greatly across oil and gas facilities and that legal, political and institutional aspects differ by jurisdiction.

The oil and gas industries are important sources of anthropogenic methane emissions and, though methane has a relatively short residence time in the atmosphere, its volumes are replenished continuously. Methane, the primary component of natural gas, can be released to the atmosphere during oil and gas production, processing, storage, transmission, distribution, and use. Because methane has a much higher warming potential than CO2, effective management is important for countries’ climate change mitigation strategies and is one of the few approaches that represents a significant, cost-effective, and near-term opportunity.

Oil and gas will play a key role in the future sustainable energy system even under a scenario that meets stringent climate objectives – the sector will continue to support economic growth and social progress as alternatives to oil and gas will take time to emerge and achieve global scale. Addressing the methane challenge will improve the sector’s sustainability credentials.

For additional case studies that were developed after publication of the document please visit a detailed website dedicated to this publication.

Please also see the Best Practice Guidance document in the following languages:

Official UNECE languages

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Best Practice Guidance for Effective Methane Recovery and Use from Abandoned Coal Mines

The Best Practice Guidance for Effective Methane Recovery and Use from Abandoned Coal Mines (BPG on AMM) is aimed at raising awareness of AMM opportunities and hazards by providing accessible high-level guidance for senior corporate, government and financial decision-makers – all of whom play an integral role in decisions to implement best practices. Recommended principles and standards on coal mine methane (CMM) capture and use have already been set out in the Best Practice Guidance on Effective Methane Drainage and Use in Coal Mines. The BPG on AMM complements that guidance and is aimed at completing the coal mining cycle by considering the methane emissions that continue after mining has ceased and mines have closed. 

The BPG on AMM does not replace or supersede laws and regulations or other legally binding instruments, whether national or international. A clear legal framework and supportive policies can help in getting methane to market. The principles outlined herein are intended to provide guidance to complement existing legal and regulatory frameworks and to support development of post-mining projects to reduce the overall emissions attributable to the coal mining life cycle by optimising recovery and use of methane that would otherwise be released to the atmosphere. To gain a greater understanding about the potential growth of these emissions, UNECE member states and GMI members are urged to consider ways to improve their knowledge of the magnitude and rate of growth of this emission source by including methane emissions from abandoned underground coal mines in their national inventories.

For additional case studies that were developed after publication of the document please visit a detailed website dedicated to this publication.

Please also see the Best Practice Guidance document in the following languages:

Official UNECE languages

 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Best Practice Guidance for Effective Methane Drainage and Use in Coal Mines

The UNECE Group of Experts on Coal Mine Methane (CMM) has released the second edition of the Best Practice Guidance for Effective Methane Drainage and Use in Coal Mines. Since the first edition was published in 2010, the industry practice and regulations have evolved, and this second edition captures the most critical developments. The second edition also includes additional case studies that illustrate the application of the best practices in coal mines worldwide. The principles-based second edition of Best Practice Guidance does not replace national or international laws and regulations. Rather, it complements them through a holistic approach to safer and more effective methane management practices.

Please also see the Best Practice Guidance document in the following languages:

Official UNECE languages

Other languages