Industry, Materials, and Waste Management

Oil and Gas Methane Regulations

Oil and gas methane regulations represent crucial measures aimed at mitigating the substantial methane emissions originating from oil and gas operations, which account for about 10% of total U.S. emissions and 20% globally. These regulations mandate significant reductions in methane emissions from oil and gas activities, including frequent leak detection and repair, prohibition of routine methane flaring during maintenance, installation of emission-limiting technologies, and adherence to greenhouse gas reporting requirements.

States with Policy Enacted

In Progress

Partially Enacted

See States List

Key Resources

Global Methane Tracker 2024

A comprehensive online platform that tracks methane regulations and policies globally, including those specific to the oil and gas industry, and provides updates on regulatory developments, analysis of regulatory impacts, and insights into best practices for compliance.
2024
Source:

Industrial Process Emissions Policies

An explainer that provides an overview of industrial process emissions policies, when to use each type of policy, and case studies, all related to reducing the nine major types of industrial emissions, including from refrigerant use, cement clinker production, soils, and methane from natural gas systems, landfills, coal mines, and wastewater treatment.

From SLCP Challenge to Action: A Roadmap for Reducing Short Lived Climate Pollutants to Meet the Goals of the Paris Agreement

A guide that offers detailed insights into regulatory developments, legal implications, and state-level actions related to the regulation of SLCPs across sectors, including methane, hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), and black carbon.
2018
Source:

Model States

Colorado

Methane emissions from oil and gas operations must be reduced 60% below 2005 levels by 2030.

Oil and gas companies must find and fix methane leaks, and, where necessary, install technologies to limit or prevent emissions. These rules also require semiannual leak detection, tank controls, and performance standards for transmission. Frequent leak detection and repair (LDAR) is also required, and routine methane flaring during maintenance is prohibited.

Oil and gas operators must also report their emissions under the Colorado Greenhouse Gas Reporting Rule.

New Mexico

Oil and gas operators are required to capture 98% of their waste natural gas by the end of 2026.

Oil and gas operators are required to calculate emission rates, perform monthly checks for leaks and fix them within 15 days, and achieve state-determined emission reduction requirements for certain equipment and processes.

Oil and Gas Methane Regulations By State

Filters
Status State Sort descending Region Components YR Enacted
Not Enacted
Empty column

Oil and gas methane regulations include phasedown commitments, reporting requirements, leak detection and repair, or other measures that reduce methane emissions from oil and gas production.

Empty column
Southeast
Not Enacted
Empty column

Oil and gas methane regulations include phasedown commitments, reporting requirements, leak detection and repair, or other measures that reduce methane emissions from oil and gas production.

Empty column
West
Not Enacted
Empty column

Oil and gas methane regulations include phasedown commitments, reporting requirements, leak detection and repair, or other measures that reduce methane emissions from oil and gas production.

Empty column
Southwest
Not Enacted
Empty column

Oil and gas methane regulations include phasedown commitments, reporting requirements, leak detection and repair, or other measures that reduce methane emissions from oil and gas production.

Empty column
Southeast
Enacted
Empty column

Methane emissions must be reduced 40% below 2013 levels by 2030.

Establishing Policies
Empty column
West 2016
Enacted
Empty column

Methane emissions from oil and gas operations must be reduced 60% below 2005 levels by 2030.

Oil and gas companies must find and fix methane leaks, and, where necessary, install technologies to limit or prevent emissions. These rules also require semiannual leak detection, tank controls, and performance standards for transmission. Frequent leak detection and repair (LDAR) is also required, and routine methane flaring during maintenance is prohibited.

Oil and gas operators must also report their emissions under the Colorado Greenhouse Gas Reporting Rule.

Empty column
West 2023
Not Enacted
Empty column

Oil and gas methane regulations include phasedown commitments, reporting requirements, leak detection and repair, or other measures that reduce methane emissions from oil and gas production.

Empty column
Northeast
Not Enacted
Empty column

Oil and gas methane regulations include phasedown commitments, reporting requirements, leak detection and repair, or other measures that reduce methane emissions from oil and gas production.

Empty column
Southeast
Not Enacted
Empty column

Oil and gas methane regulations include phasedown commitments, reporting requirements, leak detection and repair, or other measures that reduce methane emissions from oil and gas production.

Empty column
Southeast
Not Enacted
Empty column

Oil and gas methane regulations include phasedown commitments, reporting requirements, leak detection and repair, or other measures that reduce methane emissions from oil and gas production.

Empty column
Southeast
Not Enacted
Empty column

Oil and gas methane regulations include phasedown commitments, reporting requirements, leak detection and repair, or other measures that reduce methane emissions from oil and gas production.

Empty column
West
Not Enacted
Empty column

Oil and gas methane regulations include phasedown commitments, reporting requirements, leak detection and repair, or other measures that reduce methane emissions from oil and gas production.

Empty column
West
Not Enacted
Empty column

Oil and gas methane regulations include phasedown commitments, reporting requirements, leak detection and repair, or other measures that reduce methane emissions from oil and gas production.

Empty column
Midwest
Not Enacted
Empty column

Oil and gas methane regulations include phasedown commitments, reporting requirements, leak detection and repair, or other measures that reduce methane emissions from oil and gas production.

Empty column
Midwest
Not Enacted
Empty column

Oil and gas methane regulations include phasedown commitments, reporting requirements, leak detection and repair, or other measures that reduce methane emissions from oil and gas production.

Empty column
Midwest
Not Enacted
Empty column

Oil and gas methane regulations include phasedown commitments, reporting requirements, leak detection and repair, or other measures that reduce methane emissions from oil and gas production.

Empty column
Midwest
Not Enacted
Empty column

Oil and gas methane regulations include phasedown commitments, reporting requirements, leak detection and repair, or other measures that reduce methane emissions from oil and gas production.

Empty column
Southeast
Enacted
Empty column

Routine venting or flaring of natural gas is prohibited, except in instances where the Office of Conservation finds that such prohibition would result in an economic hardship on the operator of the well, lease or production facility from which the gas is proposed to be flared.

Empty column
Southeast 2024
Not Enacted
Empty column

Oil and gas methane regulations include phasedown commitments, reporting requirements, leak detection and repair, or other measures that reduce methane emissions from oil and gas production.

Empty column
Northeast
Enacted
Empty column

Operators must reduce vented and fugitive emissions of methane from both new and existing natural gas transmission and storage facilities.

Establishing Policies
Empty column
Southeast 2020
Enacted
Empty column

Natural gas operators must meet annual declining methane emission limits.

Establishing Policies
Empty column
Northeast 2021
Not Enacted
Empty column

Oil and gas methane regulations include phasedown commitments, reporting requirements, leak detection and repair, or other measures that reduce methane emissions from oil and gas production.

Empty column
Midwest
Not Enacted
Empty column

Oil and gas methane regulations include phasedown commitments, reporting requirements, leak detection and repair, or other measures that reduce methane emissions from oil and gas production.

Empty column
Midwest
Not Enacted
Empty column

Oil and gas methane regulations include phasedown commitments, reporting requirements, leak detection and repair, or other measures that reduce methane emissions from oil and gas production.

Empty column
Southeast
Not Enacted
Empty column

Oil and gas methane regulations include phasedown commitments, reporting requirements, leak detection and repair, or other measures that reduce methane emissions from oil and gas production.

Empty column
Midwest
Not Enacted
Empty column

Oil and gas methane regulations include phasedown commitments, reporting requirements, leak detection and repair, or other measures that reduce methane emissions from oil and gas production.

Empty column
West
Not Enacted
Empty column

Oil and gas methane regulations include phasedown commitments, reporting requirements, leak detection and repair, or other measures that reduce methane emissions from oil and gas production.

Empty column
Midwest
Not Enacted
Empty column

Oil and gas methane regulations include phasedown commitments, reporting requirements, leak detection and repair, or other measures that reduce methane emissions from oil and gas production.

Empty column
West
Not Enacted
Empty column

Oil and gas methane regulations include phasedown commitments, reporting requirements, leak detection and repair, or other measures that reduce methane emissions from oil and gas production.

Empty column
Northeast
Not Enacted
Empty column

Oil and gas methane regulations include phasedown commitments, reporting requirements, leak detection and repair, or other measures that reduce methane emissions from oil and gas production.

Empty column
Northeast
Enacted
Empty column

Oil and gas operators are required to capture 98% of their waste natural gas by the end of 2026.

Oil and gas operators are required to calculate emission rates, perform monthly checks for leaks and fix them within 15 days, and achieve state-determined emission reduction requirements for certain equipment and processes.

Empty column
Southwest 2022
Not Enacted
Empty column

Oil and gas methane regulations include phasedown commitments, reporting requirements, leak detection and repair, or other measures that reduce methane emissions from oil and gas production.

Empty column
Northeast
Not Enacted
Empty column

Oil and gas methane regulations include phasedown commitments, reporting requirements, leak detection and repair, or other measures that reduce methane emissions from oil and gas production.

Empty column
Southeast
Not Enacted
Empty column

Oil and gas methane regulations include phasedown commitments, reporting requirements, leak detection and repair, or other measures that reduce methane emissions from oil and gas production.

Empty column
Midwest
Not Enacted
Empty column

Oil and gas methane regulations include phasedown commitments, reporting requirements, leak detection and repair, or other measures that reduce methane emissions from oil and gas production.

Empty column
Midwest
Not Enacted
Empty column

Oil and gas methane regulations include phasedown commitments, reporting requirements, leak detection and repair, or other measures that reduce methane emissions from oil and gas production.

Empty column
Southwest
Not Enacted
Empty column

Oil and gas methane regulations include phasedown commitments, reporting requirements, leak detection and repair, or other measures that reduce methane emissions from oil and gas production.

Empty column
West
Enacted
Empty column

Operators must adhere to reasonably available control technology (RACT) requirements and RACT emission limitations for conventional oil and natural gas sources of volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

Establishing Policies
Empty column
Northeast 2022
Not Enacted
Empty column

Oil and gas methane regulations include phasedown commitments, reporting requirements, leak detection and repair, or other measures that reduce methane emissions from oil and gas production.

Empty column
Northeast
Not Enacted
Empty column

Oil and gas methane regulations include phasedown commitments, reporting requirements, leak detection and repair, or other measures that reduce methane emissions from oil and gas production.

Empty column
Southeast
Not Enacted
Empty column

Oil and gas methane regulations include phasedown commitments, reporting requirements, leak detection and repair, or other measures that reduce methane emissions from oil and gas production.

Empty column
Midwest
Not Enacted
Empty column

Oil and gas methane regulations include phasedown commitments, reporting requirements, leak detection and repair, or other measures that reduce methane emissions from oil and gas production.

Empty column
Southeast
Not Enacted
Empty column

Oil and gas methane regulations include phasedown commitments, reporting requirements, leak detection and repair, or other measures that reduce methane emissions from oil and gas production.

Empty column
Southwest
Not Enacted
Empty column

Oil and gas methane regulations include phasedown commitments, reporting requirements, leak detection and repair, or other measures that reduce methane emissions from oil and gas production.

Empty column
West
Not Enacted
Empty column

Oil and gas methane regulations include phasedown commitments, reporting requirements, leak detection and repair, or other measures that reduce methane emissions from oil and gas production.

Empty column
Northeast
Not Enacted
Empty column

Oil and gas methane regulations include phasedown commitments, reporting requirements, leak detection and repair, or other measures that reduce methane emissions from oil and gas production.

Empty column
Southeast
Not Enacted
Empty column

Oil and gas methane regulations include phasedown commitments, reporting requirements, leak detection and repair, or other measures that reduce methane emissions from oil and gas production.

Empty column
West
Not Enacted
Empty column

Oil and gas methane regulations include phasedown commitments, reporting requirements, leak detection and repair, or other measures that reduce methane emissions from oil and gas production.

Empty column
Southeast
Not Enacted
Empty column

Oil and gas methane regulations include phasedown commitments, reporting requirements, leak detection and repair, or other measures that reduce methane emissions from oil and gas production.

Empty column
Midwest
Not Enacted
Empty column

Oil and gas methane regulations include phasedown commitments, reporting requirements, leak detection and repair, or other measures that reduce methane emissions from oil and gas production.

Empty column
West

The State Climate Policy Dashboard tracks only passed policies and does not include bills currently proposed in legislative sessions. The website is intended to illustrate the current status of policies for each state, as well as key resources and model states for each policy.

Much of the information contained in this database is derived from the public domain, with links to resources provided. The information provided is made available solely for general information purposes and does not constitute legal advice. Click here for full Terms of Use.

Report an issue
See something we’re missing or a needed correction in our data?