The Oil & Gas Methane Partnership 2.0 (OGMP 2.0) is a comprehensive, measurement-based reporting framework for the oil and gas industry. It improves the accuracy and transparency of methane emissions reporting from organisations in the oil and gas sector. Owing to increased awareness and a better understanding of the science behind the impact of methane on the environment, the OGMP invites companies to voluntarily ameliorate the quantity and quality of fugitive emissions data.

Over 80 companies have committed to the OGMP 2.0 framework and joined the multi-stakeholder initiative launched by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Climate and Clean Air Coalition. Some of the largest energy companies, including BP, Eni, Equinor, Pemex, Repsol, Shell and Total have joined the OGMP 2.0 initiative. This partnership also links regulators and civil society groups with the oil and gas industry. For instance, the European Commission is a non-company member of the OGMP and the OGMP 2.0 serves as the basis for the European Commission’s proposal for new methane regulations.

In addition to major oil and gas production companies, OGMP 2.0 members also include the operators of natural gas transmission and distribution pipelines, gas storage facilities and LNG terminals. The gas leak detection and quantification set by the OGMP 2.0 incentivises the use of natural gas with the lowest possible methane emissions intensity.

What is required of OGMP companies?

Companies that join the OGMP must adhere to the framework’s requirements in their annual reporting. In the OGMP 2.0, member companies must report all material sources of methane from both operating and non-operating assets across all segments of their value chains.

What are the different OGMP 2.0 levels?

There are five different levels, each with a different focus. For instance, Levels 3 and 4 refer to source-level emissions reporting, whereas Level 5 refers to site-level reporting. Level 3 considers generic source-type emission factors. Level 4 considers source-level bottom-up measurements on representative samples from devices, from which company-specific emission and activity factors are measured. Level 5 quantifies site-level emissions.

How can companies achieve the Gold Standard?

To achieve the Gold Standard – the fifth and final reporting level of OGMP 2.0 – companies must realise Level 4 reporting for all assets and demonstrate concrete efforts to reach Level 5 reporting within a time period of three years for operating assets and five years for non-operating assets.[i] For Gold Standard Reporting, companies must develop measurement-based emissions factors to inform bottom-up inventories and perform top-down site-level measurements.

What are bottom-up and top-down measurements?

Bottom-up estimates quantify emissions from a representative sample of devices, along with commonly used engineering models. Top-down measurements are usually performed at a site or at a regional scale using airplanes or drones. A bottom-up estimate can be used to evaluate long-term conditions and variations. A top-down estimate can provide insights into unexpected leaks and be used to develop emission maps for effective maintenance. The top-down method provides an accurate snapshot of emissions that may be missed by the bottom-up approach.

Should companies choose between bottom-up and top-down measurements?

No, in Level 5 reporting, companies must do both. Level 5 reconciles the source-level estimates of Level 4 with independent site-level measurements. You can best understand your emissions by combining the source-level bottom-up and site-level top-down approaches.

What is the ‘reconciliation’ required for the Gold Standard?

Reconciliation is the process of comparing Level 4 source-level inventories with independent site-level measurements to generate Level 5 asset emission estimates. The reconciliation process helps improve accuracy, thoroughness and confidence in the reported emissions. It is an iterative annual process of investigation and should not be considered a one-off comparison between two independent values.

Are top-down measurements the same as site-level measurements?

Not necessarily, although many people use these expressions interchangeably. ‘Top-down’ is interpreted by some to mean that measurements should be conducted from a certain viewpoint. In reality, the terms only refer to measurements that can capture emissions within the entire site or facility. 

The use of these terms is not yet fully established, and we often encounter both when conversing with clients or working with tender documents. Essentially, Aeromon responds to both terms with the same service model. A suitable data-gathering method is chosen for each site and quantification is performed at the source or asset level depending on the request.

Are companies required to use only certain measuring techniques?

No, there are several gas analyser techniques that can be used to accurately measure airborne emissions. For instance, sniffers, often used with unmanned unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), are common. Reverse dispersion modelling (RDM) is a method to obtain the mean emission rate of fugitive sources by using measured concentrations at different sampling locations and calculated dispersion factors. Gas detectors, devices that detect the presence of gases in an area, come packaged into two main form factors: portable devices and fixed gas detectors. Range-resolved infrared differential absorption Lidar (DIAL) measurements provide the means to map and quantify a wide range of different methane sources. Aeromon is happy to help you find the technique best fitting your needs.

Can our company lose the Gold Standard status?

Yes, companies may lose the Gold Standard status if they fail to follow a credible path in the implantation plan or report at Levels 4/5 within the defined periods for the overwhelming majority of their operating and non-operating assets.

Why should our company join OGMP 2.0?

OGMP 2.0 provides widely accepted standards for measuring and reporting methane emissions globally. This would help you adopt new measurement techniques, track emissions reduction, benchmark company performance and provide stakeholders – such as industry investors – with credible and detailed Leak Detection and Repair (LDAR) reports.

Who can join OGMP 2.0?

Companies of any size can apply for an OGMP membership if they have operational control of assets in the oil and gas sector, including upstream, midstream and downstream companies. When joining the OGMP 2.0, companies must pledge to adhere to the partnership’s standards for measuring and mitigating methane emissions.

What is IMEO?

OGMP 2.0 data is one of the key components of the International Methane Emissions Observatory (IMEO)’s solution to the methane data problem. IMEO is a data-driven, action-focused initiative with an innovative approach of collecting, integrating and reconciling methane data to generate a public dataset of methane emission levels and sources. IMEO will serve as a key vehicle for implementing the Global Methane Pledge by creating a sound scientific foundation for methane emissions calculations.

Why Aeromon?

Aeromon provides a methane emissions monitoring and reporting service that helps your company with MRV (Measurement, Reporting and Verification). Aeromon provides real-time, easy-to-understand data on fugitive emissions. In addition to methane, Aeromon monitors other volatile organic compounds (VOCs), harmful and foul-odour chemicals, particulates and noise.

With airborne emissions mapping, Aeromon provides actionable information on gas leak locations, sources, and concentration levels. Site-level information can be used to perform adequate maintenance operations. Real-time process monitoring can provide visualised, layered information on the emission dispersion of various compounds. Continuous measurements and real-time process monitoring support process development and operations to minimise methane emissions.

As a specialist in drone gas leak detection, Aeromon has vast experience in OGMP 2.0 measuring and reporting. In addition to taking part in several global research projects, Aeromon has helped several clients in their efforts to minimise and report unintended emissions, while finding the most effective methods to detect leaks.

To benefit clients, Aeromon is partnering with several market leaders in methane monitoring. When required, Aeromon’s partners can provide clients with source-level bottom-up estimates, while Aeromon will perform site-level top-down measurements.

Interested in obtaining OGMP 2.0 Level 5?

Contact our experts: https://aeromon.io/contact-us/