Methane: the climate wildcard we’re still underestimating
- 11 April 2025
- Posted by: Greg Coleman
- Category: energy transition
In the climate conversation, carbon dioxide tends to steal the spotlight. It’s the gas most associated with global warming, thanks to decades of focus in both policy and public awareness. But lurking in the background is a far more potent actor – methane (CH₄) – a greenhouse gas with a warming potential more than 80 times greater than CO₂ over a 20-year period. And it’s time we paid it the attention it demands.
Why methane matters
Methane is a colourless, odourless gas emitted primarily from agriculture, fossil fuel extraction, landfills and wetlands. It’s shorter-lived in the atmosphere than CO₂- about 12 years compared to centuries – but it delivers a significantly greater warming punch in the short term.
This gives us a unique opportunity: cutting methane emissions now is one of the fastest and most cost-effective ways to slow climate change. Unlike the long arc of CO₂ reduction, methane cuts can deliver tangible climate benefits within a decade.
What’s already being said
As outlined in our recent blog Climate change and the hydrocarbon industry , and in our ‘Known Unknowns’ – fugitive emissions white paper, the oil and gas industry remains one of the largest contributors to global methane emissions—yet it’s also one of the most technically solvable areas. Leaks and intentional venting during oil and gas operations account for a significant share, and technologies to detect and seal these emissions already exist. It’s often not about capability, but priority and accountability.
Industry engagement is crucial, and methane management must become a core competency in hydrocarbon operations – not a PR afterthought.
Real-world example
Canada
In October, Tourmaline Oil Corp. vented 3,862.5 thousand cubic metres of natural gas—equivalent to around 84.8 metric tons a day. That’s roughly 310 thousand cubic feet per day (mcf/day), marking the highest level recorded by the Alberta Energy Regulator since it revised its reporting definitions in 2020.
Venting, which releases methane directly into the atmosphere, is significantly more harmful than flaring, as it emits methane in its most potent form without combustion. The figures represent a threefold increase from the previous month and a 25% rise year-on-year, highlighting not just a climate concern, but a missed opportunity to capture and utilise a valuable energy resource.
The United Kingdom
A leak from a gas main in Wales released enough methane to heat 7,500 UK homes for a year—an avoidable waste of both energy and around £6.3 million (based on average annual gas consumption per UK household: ~12,000 kWh). Capturing that gas could have helped reduce pressure on supply, stabilise prices, and cut carbon emissions at the same time.
For Wales & West Utilities, the incident offers a chance to lead by example: upgrading infrastructure, using continuous monitoring technology, and responding faster to emissions. With expert support from energy consultancies like us, this kind of loss can be turned into a roadmap for savings resilience, and credibility in the low-carbon transition.
The International Association of Oil and Gas Producers (IOGP), based in the UK, has updated its Recommended Practices for Methane Emissions Detection and Quantification Technologies to reflect advances in monitoring tools. The revised reportoffers upstream operators globally a structured framework to select and deploy methane detection solutions tailored to site-specific needs.
The USA
A recent study revealed that over half of U.S. landfills are methane “super-emitters,” each releasing more than 100 kilograms of methane per hour. Aerial surveys across 18 states showed these landfills emit methane at rates 1.4 times higher than reported to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Given methane’s potency as a greenhouse gas—trapping 80 times more heat than carbon dioxide over a 20-year period—these findings highlight the need for improved monitoring and mitigation strategies to address landfill emissions and combat climate change.
Turkmenistan’s super emitters
In 2023, satellite data revealed massive methane leaks in Turkmenistan, with single plumes visible from space and releasing the equivalent emissions of millions of cars. These weren’t one-off events—they exposed systemic issues in maintenance, oversight and enforcement across oilfields. And they weren’t limited to Turkmenistan—similar leaks have been found in the US Permian Basin, Algeria and even the North Sea.
The overlooked opportunity
Methane reduction is often labelled as “low-hanging fruit,” especially in the energy sector:
- Fixing fugitive emissions from pipelines, compressors, and flares is not only technically feasible but often profitable—the captured methane can be sold as natural gas.
- In agriculture, feed additives like Bovaer have shown promise in reducing enteric methane emissions from cows by up to 30%.
- Landfill gas capture projects, like those in the United Kingdom, Sweden or California, convert methane into biogas to power local grids. Based on our surveys, even these projects still leak methane.
These aren’t just case studies—they’re blueprints for scalable action.
Methane isn’t the largest contributor to climate change, but it might be the most revealing. How we respond to methane—fast, proven and high-impact—reflects our maturity in managing the climate challenge.
We already have the tools. What we need is strategic clarity, operational courage, and the will to act.
What can we offer
Future Energy Partners (FEP) brings deep expertise in the intersection of hydrocarbon operations, emissions management and strategic climate response. With decades of experience advising clients in the energy sector, FEP supports organisations and governments in turning methane from a risk into an opportunity. Specifically, we:
- Develop comprehensive methane mitigation strategies tailored to specific assets, operations, jurisdictions—aligning with ESG goals and climate commitments.
- Conduct site-level diagnostics and emissions audits using the latest in satellite, drone, and sensor-based technologies to identify and quantify methane leaks.
- Advise on infrastructure upgrades and operational best practice to eliminate fugitive emissions from pipelines, wellheads, flaring systems and storage.
- Support engagement with regulators and investors, ensuring transparency, credibility and alignment with global climate frameworks.
- Deliver tailored training and change programmes, equipping teams from boardroom to field with the knowledge and tools to manage methane effectively.
Whether you’re an international oil company, a national government, or a regional operator seeking to demonstrate leadership in emissions reduction, Future Energy Partners provides the insight, experience and implementation support to make that ambition credible and actionable.
References
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) – AR6 Climate Change 2021: The Physical Science Basis
United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) – Global Methane Assessment 2021
International Energy Agency (IEA) – Curtailing Methane Emissions from Fossil Fuel Operations (2021)
Climate & Clean Air Coalition (CCAC) – Methane Roadmap: Fast Action Can Slow Warming
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) – Methane Emissions Reduction Program
European Commission – EU Methane Strategy
Bloomberg – Canadian Gas Producer Tourmaline’s Methane Emissions Surge 200% After Deals
Daily Mail – Major UK methane leak is spotted from space
Smithsonian: More Than Half of U.S. Landfills May Be Methane ‘Super-Emitters,’ Study Finds
Oil and Gas Climate Initiative (OGCI) – OGCI Performance & Impact
OGCI Climate Investments – Wabash Valley Resources Carbon Capture Project
SensorUp – Methane Emissions Management Platform
Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) – MethaneSAT Mission
The Guardian – Revealed: The “Super Emitters” Leaking Methane
Revealed: 1,000 super-emitting methane leaks risk triggering climate tipping points
Kayrros Methane Watch – Satellite-Based Methane Emissions Tracking
Future Energy Partners – Climate Change and the Hydrocarbon Industry
IOGP Updates Recommended Practices for Methane Emissions Detection