EPA’s Voluntary Methane Programs for the Oil and Natural Gas Industry

Industry Partnerships

Since 1993, EPA has partnered with oil and natural gas operators to encourage the identification and implementation of technologies and practices to reduce methane emissions from the oil and gas sector. Through the Natural Gas STAR Program, EPA hosts workshops and webinars, shares technical resources, and directly partners with oil and gas operators. EPA hosted the Natural Gas STAR partnership beginning in 1993 to provide a forum for industry partners to share their innovative and voluntary actions to reduce methane emissions; in 2022, at a time of unprecedented action on oil and gas methane emissions in the US, EPA transitioned the Natural Gas STAR Program to end the formal partnership while retaining the information-sharing aspects of the program. EPA continues to partner with oil and gas operators through the Methane Challenge Partnership.

Methane Challenge Partnership

Learn about the ambitious commitments Partners are making and find information on how to join the Methane Challenge Partnership

Legacy Natural Gas STAR Partnership

Learn about nearly 30 years of methane reductions and technology transfer through the legacy Natural Gas STAR Partnership 

Program Resources

• Mitigation Technologies

  View technologies to mitigate methane emissions

  Learn More

• Technical Presentations

  View technical presentations from Natural Gas STAR events

  Read Presentations

• Videos About Methane Emissions

  View videos about methane emissions in the oil and gas industry

  Watch Videos

• Outreach and Events

  View upcoming and recent events sponsored by the Natural Gas STAR Program

  View Events

• Oil and Gas Industry Overview

  Learn about the natural gas industry as well as methane emissions from the industry

  Read More

• Equipment and Service Provider Directory

  View a list of equipment and service providers that can facilitate methane emission reductions from oil and gas operations

  View Providers

Why Focus on Methane?

• Methane is a potent greenhouse gas 25 times more powerful than CO₂ in trapping heat in the atmosphere over a 100-year period.
• Methane is a primary constituent of natural gas, an important energy source.
• Taking steps to reduce methane emissions reduces operational risk, increases efficiency, and demonstrates company concern for the environment, with benefits spanning from climate change to air quality improvements.

To learn more about methane, visit EPA's Overview of Greenhouse Gases page. For more information about methane emissions in the natural gas industry, see the Annual Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks sections on Natural Gas Systems.