Methane Compliance Monitoring

Methane compliance monitoring refers to the ongoing activities oil and gas operators perform to meet regulatory requirements for detecting, measuring, and managing methane emissions. Those activities include conducting leak detection surveys, quantifying emissions, documenting leaks, conducting repair activities, and reporting according to the rules from agencies like the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and U.S. Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), or other state or regional regulatory jurisdictions. 

Effective methane compliance monitoring ensures that operators meet legal obligations: conducting all required monitoring, follow-up, repair, and reporting activities to avoid penalties, and demonstrate responsible environmental performance.

Why Does Methane Compliance Monitoring Matter?

Methane compliance monitoring is intended to reduce methane emissions, protect air quality and community safety, and ensure operators meet regulatory requirements. Specific requirements are dependent upon the industry segments that oil and gas operators conduct business in, and the rules that are applicable to the segment and jurisdiction, whether federal, state, or local. 

From well pads and pipelines to processing facilities and compressor stations, when applicable regulations are in place in a given jurisdiction, operators must prove they are:

• Regularly surveying for leaks
• Accurately measuring emissions
• Documenting inspection results
• Repairing leaks within required timeframes
• Submitting reports to regulatory agencies

Programs like EPA Subpart W, EPA OOOOa/OOOOb/OOOOc, and PHMSA’s pipeline safety regulations all require, or will require, some form of methane compliance monitoring. 

Bridger Photonics’ Gas Mapping LiDAR® helps operators meet these obligations by delivering high-quality, quantified, equipment-level emissions data suitable for audits and filings.

How Does Methane Compliance Monitoring Work? (Brief Technical)

Methane compliance monitoring typically involves:

• Scheduled leak detection surveys (via ground-based , aerial, or other methods approved by the regulating body)
• Detecting the location and size of leaks as required in the applicable regulations
• Recording date, time, and other records related to the leak detection, inspection, repair, and verification
• Submission of required records to the regulating body

Aerial emissions detection systems like Bridger’s LiDAR technology offers an efficient way to monitor wide areas with high sensitivity and accuracy, providing both detection and quantification with pinpointed leak locations.

Key Applications in Oil and Gas

• Complying with EPA Subpart W and Subparts OOOOa, OOOOb, and OOOOc, as applicable
• Meeting PHMSA pipeline leak detection requirements
• Complying with other state, regional, or local methane regulations
• Enhancing ESG disclosures with verified emissions data

Related: Aerial Methane Detection, Methane Quantification, Subpart W Methane, PHMSA Methane Detection, EPA OOOOb Methane Rule

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