EPA OOOOb Methane Rule

The United States Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) OOOOb methane rule refers to the EPA’s 40 CFR Part 60 New Source Performance Standards (NSPS) Subpart OOOOb. The NSPS aims to reduce methane and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) for new, modified, and reconstructed crude oil and natural gas sources.These regulations, finalized in early 2024, are part of the U.S. EPA’s broader effort to reduce methane emissions from the oil and natural gas sector and include requirements for leak detection, monitoring frequency, approved technologies, and repair timelines.

Why Does the EPA’s OOOOb Methane Rule Matter?

The EPA’s final oil and gas methane rule was published to the Federal Register in 2024, establishing sweeping new methane reduction requirements for operators. It also enables, for the first time, the use of advanced methane detection technologies.

There are two main sections to the new methane rule: Subpart OOOOb and Subpart OOOOc. Subpart OOOOb applies to infrastructure that is new, modified or reconstructed after December 6th, 2022, while Subpart OOOOc is a set of guidelines for how states should develop their own requirements in the coming months and years via “state implementation plans,” or SIPs. These plans will cover older infrastructure sources from on or before December 6th, 2022. Additionally, the rule allows advanced methane detection technology to be used according to the OOOOb work practice for fugitive emissions monitoring at sites subject to the OOOOa rule. 

While the methane rule prescribes extensive emissions reduction measures, it also opens the door for operators to utilize new and innovative technologies for their emissions monitoring programs. This is the first time there has been a clear pathway to use advanced methane detection technologies for EPA compliance.Operators must implement approved leak detection technologies at a specific frequency depending on the emission rate detection sensitivity of the technology, and document repairs to stay in compliance.

For oil and gas operators, the OOOOb rule drives decisions about:

• Which detection technologies to deploy
• How often to scan sites for emissions (this frequency is dependent on which approved technology is chosen and its capabilities)
• How to document repairs and report emissions

Aerial detection technologies like Bridger Photonics’ Gas Mapping LiDAR® (GML) support compliance by delivering high-sensitivity, quantified leak data that meets EPA’’s performance-based standards.

How Does the EPA’s OOOOb Methane Rule Work? (Brief Technical)

Under OOOOb, methane detection programs must meet minimum requirements for:

• Detection sensitivity and probability of detection
• Scan frequency
• Recordkeeping and reporting
• Leak verification and repair timelines

The EPA allows operators to choose from agency-approved leak detection methods (known as Alternative Test Methods), including optical gas imaging (OGI), fixed sensor-based surveys, and technologies like aerial LiDAR deployed via small aircraft.

Bridger’s system supports OOOOb compliance by providing:

• Quantified emissions data
• Pinpointed leak locations to within ~2 meters
• Date and time-stamped inspection records including swath coverage and actual detection sensitivity at each location
• Reporting-ready formats
• Audit-ready documentation

These capabilities help operators satisfy the rule’s performance-based approach while improving efficiency, reducing emissions through streamlined LDAR programs, and reducing future emissions through advanced analytics that lend insight into emission trends.

Key Applications in Oil and Gas

Under EPA’s OOOOb methane rule, oil and natural gas operators must:

• Comply with OOOOb detection and survey frequency requirements depending on their facility type and age
• Detect and quantify emissions from regulated equipment
• Prioritize leak repairs as directed in the OOOOb regulations
• Document inspections and repairs for EPA audits

Related: PHMSA Methane Detection, Methane Quantification, Aerial Methane Detection, Gas Mapping LiDAR, OGMP 2.0

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