While the oil and gas sector, environmentalists and others debate the merits of additional regulatory pressure to reduce methane emissions in the U.S., some companies are confronting the problem head-on.

But a handful of those companies are also voluntarily pushing to further lower greenhouse gas emissions as part of an oil and gas global methane partnership.

The Climate & Clean Air Coalition Oil & Gas Methane Partnership said it has identified several low-cost, quick payback projects that lower methane emissions, most of which have been tested as part of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Natural Gas Star program. However, the main difference between the EPA program and the partnership is that member companies—which include BG-Group, ENI, Pemex, PTT, Southwestern Energy, Statoil and Total—are required to not only report on emissions reductions but also look for potential emissions and solutions.

The partnership was launched in September 2014 at the UN Secretary General’s Climate Summit by government and non-governmental partners in the Climate and Clean Air Coalition after more than a year of consultations with the oil and gas industry, investors and others. The public-private partnership platform allows companies to show how they are identifying and eliminating emissions, according to the Climate & Clean Air Coalition Oil & Gas Methane Partnership,

It is too early to say whether their efforts have paid off. The companies’ first annual reports, which cover 2015 activities, are due in early 2016.

“The first step is for the companies to conduct surveys of their participating assets, noting what they have found. Then they must evaluate mitigation solutions for the unmitigated sources they have found,” Philip Swanson, administrator of the Climate & Clean Air Coalition Oil & Gas Methane Partnership, told Hart Energy. “Presumably they will mitigate as much as possible right away, while noting in their annual report a schedule for remaining mitigation projects.”

In addition to covering mitigation activities and emissions reductions, the report will note the percentage of the company’s assets included in the program, he said, giving an incentive to increase the number.

“While natural gas emits less CO2 than coal or oil when burned, stakeholders increasingly are concerned that methane emissions during gas production undermine the net climate benefits of switching to gas and increasing its share in the energy mix,” said Swanson. “This includes many governments that are CCAC partners and expecting a large increase in gas use in their countries.”

New technologies have already led to a nearly 79% fall in methane emissions from hydraulically fractured natural gas wells in the U.S. since 2005, according to the American Petroleum Institute. Companies are opting for green completions, capturing natural gas at the wellhead after a well is completed instead of releasing the gas into the air by flaring. Other techniques include using vapor-recovery units on storage tanks, replacing seals to prevent natural gas from escaping compressor casing, and better detecting and controlling leaks.

Despite the strides, reducing methane emissions—a key ingredient of natural gas that can itself be used as an energy source—still remains a target for regulators not only in the U.S. but worldwide. The U.S. wants to cut methane emissions from the oil and gas sector by 40 to 45% from 2012 levels by 2025. Reducing methane emissions is also an initiative pursued by the International Energy Agency.

“The oil and gas sector is the largest human emitter of methane after agriculture, and methane is over 80 times more potent than CO2 over a 20-year time horizon,” Swanson said. “The often-heard statement that ‘gas is cleaner than coal’ will only be widely accepted if methane emissions are shown to be managed.”

Swanson said that some companies have the problem relatively under control.

Others agree. “The oil and gas industry is leading the charge in reducing methane,” API president and CEO Jack Gerard said in a statement last week when the EPA released a proposal for additional methane regulations. In a news release, Gerald pointed to EPA analysis that showed total methane emissions from natural gas systems in the U.S. dropped 11% in the last 10 years.

The EPA proposal was released as the oil and gas sector continued to endure lower commodity prices that cut into profit. The shift from oil price highs above $100/bbl to less than $40/bbl has caused widespread job losses and spending cutbacks, as production outgrew global demand.

“Low oil prices this past year probably have been distracting companies from this issue,” Swanson said.

With only seven oil and gas companies as members, the partnership is looking to grow. Doing so would prove that companies have the methane emissions problem under control, he said.

However, many companies do not systematically check facilities for these emission sources, he added. Speaking on the partnership’s recruiting efforts, he said that “some probably are not aware of the extent of the problem in their operations. Some companies may hesitate precisely because they do not know the extent, but fear it could be higher than believed and do not want to publicly commit themselves to reporting on it until they do know for sure.”

To these companies, Swanson said, “It is possible to start small under this initiative.” Begin with only a few fields, learn and apply knowledge gained to assets over time, he added.

The partnership plans to release a list of nine core methane emissions sources and recommended solutions for reduction. The recommendations, which are being finalized, will be released in a series of technical guidance documents. Hopes are for the mitigation methods to become publicly available by COP21, set for Dec. 7-8 in Paris.

Swanson notes that companies won’t be forced to use these mitigation methods. Companies may also use other new methods they consider to be as effective, he added, provided they describe the method and share with others.

“This is to help promote innovation in dealing with methane emission reduction,” he said.

PROBLEM, SOLUTION: TACKLING METHANE EMISSIONS: There are several ways to lower methane emissions. And companies could capitalize on hydrocarbon resources, which would have otherwise escaped from flares.

Here are some sources of methane emissions and recommended mitigation solutions provided by Philip Swanson, administrator for the Climate & Clean Air Coalition Oil & Gas Methane Partnership.

Pneumatic controls and pumps: Instead of using natural gas, install an instrument air system for pneumatic gas supply. Retrofit pneumatic gas controllers with low or no bleed devices. Replace pneumatic pumps with electric pumps, including solar electric pumps if the unit is small enough.

Fugitive equipment and process leaks: Conduct an assessment using optical imaging cameras or leaks sensors. Check piping, valves, connectors, flanges, compressor casing and open-ended lines for leaks and repair as soon as possible. Conduct monthly or quarterly inspections and maintenance to look for problem areas.

Centrifugal compressors with wet (oil) seals: Convert wet seal centrifugal compressors to dry seals. Recover and use, or sell, gas separated from the seal by installing an intermediate pressure seal oil/gas separation system that can be routed to a pressurized inlet such as for fuel gas.

Hydrocarbon liquid storage tanks: If such tanks are used, install a vapor recovery unit to recover tank vapors or route it to a gas lift. Reduce the differential pressure between oil/gas separation to the atmospheric tank to lower the amount of gas emitted from the tank.

Casinghead gas venting: Instead of venting casinghead gas from the annular space between the tubing and casing on oil wells, capture it by installing compressors or vapor recovery units. Casing could also be connected to tanks with vapor recovery units.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s proposal, unveiled last week, would require companies to find and repair leaks, capture gas from completion of hydraulically fractured wells, limit emissions from new and modified pneumatic pumps, and limit emissions from equipment used at compressor stations.

The EPA thinks the proposed standards could reduce 340,000 to 400,000 short tons of methane in 2025. That is the equivalent of between 7.7 million to 9 million metric tonnes equivalent of carbon dioxide, according to the EPA.

Velda Addison can be reached at vaddison@hartenergy.com or via Twitter @veldaaddison.