Author: Matt Barry

March 6, 2023: JGC Holdings Corporation has pledged its support for the OGCI-developed Aiming for Zero Methane Emissions Initiative, becoming the first Japanese company to join a growing oil industry effort to eliminate methane emissions from operations to support net zero.

Welcoming the engineering, construction and procurement specialist, OGCI Executive Committee Chairman Bjørn Otto Sverdrup said: “I’m delighted JGC Holdings has joined this important initiative.

“Eliminating methane from oil and gas operations is one of the quickest ways to help meet the Paris Agreement targets. JGC’s commitment further strengthens the Aiming for Zero initiative and sends a clear signal that the industry is stepping up action to decarbonize.”

Oil and gas production is responsible for about a quarter of global man-made methane emissions.

While methane is shorter-lived in the atmosphere than carbon dioxide, it packs a bigger warming punch and is responsible for 30% of the rise in global temperatures since the start of the Industrial Revolution, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA).

JGC joins over 70 companies, including major oil and gas and service companies, in Aiming for Zero. It said today in a statement <LINK> that joining the initiative is an important step in the company’s decarbonization path.

Supporters like JGC are key to the initiative as they can enable oil and gas producers to eliminate their methane footprint. The initiative outlines a clear pathway toward rapid emissions reductions for signatories. But they cannot solve the methane problem on their own. That’s why the initiative is open to supporters who can help them to eliminate their methane footprint – and why the participation of companies such as JGC is so important.

Aiming for Zero supplements a number of other multi-stakeholder initiatives to drive down methane emissions, including the Methane Guiding Principles, the Oil and Gas Methane Partnership 2.0 and the Global Methane Alliance.

The CEOs of OGCI member companies – Aramco, bp, Chevron, CNPC, Eni, Equinor, ExxonMobil, Occidental, Petrobras, Repsol, Shell and TotalEnergies, launched Aiming for Zero in March 2022.

Energy companies involved in the exploration, extraction and/or production of oil or natural gas can join as signatories. Other organizations striving to help reduce methane emissions from the oil and gas industry can join as supporters.

As well as the OGCI member companies, signatories include the world’s largest LNG exporter, QatarEnergy, and upstream gas producer, Wintershall. The initiative’s supporters include energy technology giant Baker Hughes, Australian-American engineering company Worley and industry association IPIECA.

The Oil and Gas Climate Initiative (OGCI) is a CEO-led organization bringing together 12 of the world’s largest energy companies to lead the oil and gas industry’s response to climate change. The group aims to accelerate collective action towards a net zero emissions future consistent with the Paris Agreement.

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Australian producer Woodside Energy is the latest signatory to the Aiming for Zero Methane Emissions Initiative. It joins QatarEnergy, Wintershall DEA, Neptune Energy and  the 12 member companies of the Oil and Gas Climate Initiative (OGCI) in a bid to achieve near-zero methane emissions from operated oil and gas assets by 2030.

Woodside CEO Meg O’Neill said: “Signing this initiative is an example of our commitment to meeting our own emissions reduction targets, and to encouraging our entire industry to join this effort.

“Minimizing methane emissions has historically been a priority for Woodside. For example, frontline engineering, operations and maintenance staff are empowered to understand and act on methane emissions to support a sustainable ‘find and fix’ philosophy that can be implemented by site personnel,” she added.

OGCI Executive Committee Chair Bjørn Otto Sverdrup said: “I am delighted Woodside Energy has joined the Aiming for Zero Methane Emissions Initiative. Woodside’s commitment further strengthens the initiative, sending a clear signal that the time for incremental change is past.”

Global oilfield services giant Schlumberger announced its support for the Aiming for Zero Methane Emissions Initiative, incubated by OGCI, with the aim of eliminating methane emissions from signatories’ operations by 2030.

As an Aiming for Zero supporter, Schlumberger will work closely with the initiative’s signatories, providing expertise and technology solutions for detection and abatement that can help producers, refiners and marketers meet these methane reduction goals.

“By joining the initiative, Schlumberger’s management sends a strong statement that they share the ambition to eliminate methane leaks from the oil and gas industry,” said Bjørn Otto Sverdrup, chair of OGCI’s executive committee. “Schlumberger has strong partnerships and works with many oil, gas and energy companies, so they will be able to make a very important contribution in reducing emissions more quickly,” he added.

Kahina Abdeli-Galinier, Schlumberger’s emissions business director, said: “Eliminating methane emissions and routine flaring is our chance to show the world that our industry is serious about addressing the climate crisis. As a supporter of the Aiming for Zero initiative, we make a very clear statement to signatory participants that we are aligned with their goals, and we have the expertise and capabilities to help them get to zero methane emissions by 2030 or sooner.”

Signatories of the initiative commit to achieving near-zero methane emissions from their operations by 2030. As part of the commitment, the companies agree to pursue all reasonable means to avoid methane venting and flaring, and to repair detected leaks, while preserving the safety of people and the integrity of operations.Aiming for Zero initiative complements other multistakeholder initiatives, such as the Methane Guiding Principles, the Oil and Gas Methane Partnership 2.0 and the Global Methane Alliance, and does not aim to duplicate their work. The initiative was launched in March this year.

The Aiming for Zero Methane Emissions Initiative is gaining momentum, with Norwegian producer Vår Energi, services company Aibel and the industry association Offshore Norge all pledging to work towards achieving near zero methane emissions from operated oil and gas assets by 2030.

Vår Energi, Aibel and Offshore Norge announced their commitment at the ONS conference in Stavanger.

Bjørn Otto Sverdrup, chairman of the Oil & Gas Climate Initiative (OGCI), said: “By joining the initiative, Vår Energi, Aibel and Offshore Norge are declaring that they share the ambition to eliminate methane emissions from the oil and gas industry.

“Their presence strengthens the initiative and sends a clear signal that the time for incremental change is past.”

The Aiming for Zero Methane Emissions Initiative was launched in March 2022 by the CEOs of the OGCI member companies – Aramco, bp, Chevron, CNPC, Eni, Equinor, ExxonMobil, Occidental, Petrobras, Repsol, Shell and TotalEnergies.

All energy companies involved in the exploration, extraction and/or production of oil or natural gas can join as signatories. Other organizations striving to help reduce methane emissions from the oil and gas industry can join as supporters.

Companies joining the Initiative agree to do what it takes to reach near zero methane emissions in their operations, reporting transparently, adopting better monitoring and measurement technologies and supporting the implementation of sound regulations. The initiative’s all-in approach treats methane emissions as seriously as the industry already treats safety.

Methane, which leaves the atmosphere faster than carbon dioxide but packs a bigger warming punch, is responsible for 30% of the rise in global temperatures since the start of the Industrial Revolution, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA).

In 2021 oil and gas production was responsible for 22% of global man-made methane emissions. IEA data show that methane emissions from the energy sector lagged overall growth in energy use last year, but they still grew by about 5%.

The Aiming for Zero Methane Emissions Initiative recognizes that virtually all methane emissions from the industry can and should be avoided. It was developed by members of the OGCI, a CEO-led group that aims to speed up the industry’s response to climate change.

The initiative supplements important multi-stakeholder initiatives, such as the Methane Guiding Principles, the Oil and Gas Methane Partnership 2.0 and the Global Methane Alliance.

There are 16 signatories and 34 supporters of the initiative. As well as the OGCI member companies, signatories include the world’s largest LNG exporter, QatarEnergy, and upstream gas producer, Wintershall. The initiative’s supporters include energy technology giant Baker Hughes, Australian-American engineering company Worley and industry association IPIECA.

Wintershall DEA and Neptune Energy are the two newest signatories to the Aiming for Zero Methane Emissions Initiative, joining QatarEnergy and  the 12 member companies of the Oil & Gas Climate Initiative (OGCI) in a bid to achieve near-zero methane emissions from operated oil and gas assets by 2030.

Signatories of the industry-led initiative adopt an all-in approach that treats methane emissions as seriously as the industry already treats safety.

The initiative also counts Baker Hughes, Worley, IPECA, GHGSat, Flare 2 Value, Seek Ops and Carbon Limits as supporters.

“We are proud to welcome Wintershall DEA and Neptune Energy to the Aiming for Zero Methane Emissions Initiative. Recognizing that eliminating methane emissions from the oil and gas industry represents one of the best short-term ways of addressing climate change, I encourage others to join this ambitious effort to eliminate the oil and gas industry’s methane footprint by 2030.”

Bob Dudley, OGCI Chair

The Aiming for Zero Methane Emissions Initiative was launched in March 2022 by the CEOs of the OGCI member companies – Saudi Aramco, bp, Chevron, CNPC, Eni, Equinor, ExxonMobil, Occidental, Petrobras, Repsol, Shell and TotalEnergies.

All energy companies involved in the exploration, extraction and/or production of oil or natural gas can join as Signatories at no financial cost. Other organizations striving to have a positive influence on reducing methane emissions from the oil and gas industry can join as Supporters.

Companies joining the Initiative agree to do what it takes to reach near zero methane emissions in their operations, reporting transparently, adopting better monitoring and measurement technologies and supporting the implementation of sound regulations.