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Natural Gas STAR Program
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Recommended Technologies to Reduce Methane Emissions

Please Note

EPA makes no expressed or implied warranties as to the performance of any technology and does not certify that a technology will always operate as advertised. The end user is solely responsible for complying with any and all applicable federal, state, and local requirements. Mention of names of specific companies or commercial products and services does not imply endorsement.

Review our Lessons Learned Studies and Partner Reported Opportunities (PRO) Fact Sheets to see how the U.S. EPA’s voluntary oil and gas methane program partners have implemented technologies and practices to cut methane emissions, reduce strategic and operational risk, and demonstrate their commitment to the environment.


How to use this table:

  • Filter the table
    • Filter by Emission Source, Capital Cost, Estimated Payback, and/or Industry Segment
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  • Sort the table
    • ​Click the arrow in a column heading to sort the table based on the values in that column
  • Search the table
    • Use the Search box to find matches for a keyword
    • Note that this box will search all columns in the table but not the content of the linked PDF documents

Emission Sources
Capital Cost
Estimated Payback
Industry Segments
Emission Source Document Title Capital Cost Estimated Payback Applicable Industry Segments
Compressors/Engines Wet Seal Degassing Recovery System for Centrifugal Compressors (pdf) (409.78 KB) $33,000 (one compressor); $90,000 (four compressors) 0-1 year

Production

Gathering and Processing

Transmission

Distribution

Compressors/Engines Replace Gas Starters with Air or Nitrogen (pdf) (70.75 KB) < $1,000 0-1 year

Production

Gathering and Processing

Transmission

Compressors/Engines Reduce Natural Gas Venting with Fewer Compressor Engine Startups and Improved Engine Ignition (pdf) (74.78 KB) < $1,000 0-1 year

Production

Gathering and Processing

Transmission

Distribution

Compressors/Engines Reducing Methane Emissions from Compressor Rod Packing Systems (pdf) (271.47 KB) < $1,000 0-1 year

Production

Gathering and Processing

Transmission

Compressors/Engines Test and Repair Pressure Safety Valves (pdf) (123 KB) < $1,000 0-1 year

Production

Gathering and Processing

Transmission

Distribution

Compressors/Engines Reducing Emissions When Taking Compressors Off-Line (pdf) (248.45 KB) $1,000-$10,000 0-1 year

Production

Gathering and Processing

Transmission

Distribution

Compressors/Engines Eliminate Unnecessary Equipment and/or Systems (pdf) (64.32 KB) $1,000-$10,000 0-1 year

Production

Gathering and Processing

Transmission

Distribution

Compressors/Engines Install Automated Air/Fuel Ratio Controls (pdf) (74 KB) > $50,000 0-1 year

Production

Gathering and Processing

Transmission

Distribution

Compressors/Engines Install Electric Motor Starters (pdf) (72.52 KB) $1,000-$10,000 1-3 years

Production

Gathering and Processing

Transmission

Compressors/Engines Inject Blowdown Gas into Low Pressure Mains or Fuel Gas System (pdf) (69.35 KB) $1,000-$10,000 1-3 years

Transmission

Distribution

Compressors/Engines Replace Compressor Cylinder Unloaders (pdf) (62.22 KB) $10,000-$50,000 1-3 years

Production

Gathering and Processing

Transmission

Compressors/Engines Install Electric Compressors (pdf) (64.87 KB) > $50,000 1-3 years

Production

Gathering and Processing

Transmission

Compressors/Engines Replacing Wet Seals with Dry Seals in Centrifugal Compressors (pdf) (289.48 KB) > $50,000 1-3 years

Production

Transmission

Dehydrators Reroute Glycol Skimmer Gas (pdf) (67.7 KB) $1,000-$10,000 0-1 year

Production

Gathering and Processing

Transmission

Dehydrators Pipe Glycol Dehydrator to Vapor Recovery Unit (pdf) (77.71 KB) $1,000-$10,000 0-1 year

Production

Gathering and Processing

Transmission

Dehydrators Replace Glycol Dehydration Units with Methanol Injection (pdf) (68.22 KB) $1,000-$10,000 0-1 year

Production

Gathering and Processing

Transmission

Dehydrators Portable Desiccant Dehydrators (pdf) (68.87 KB) $1,000-$10,000 0-1 year Production
Dehydrators Eliminate Unnecessary Equipment and/or Systems (pdf) (64.32 KB) $1,000-$10,000 0-1 year

Production

Gathering and Processing

Transmission

Distribution

Dehydrators Zero Emissions Dehydrators (pdf) (222.01 KB) $10,000-$50,000 0-1 year

Production

Gathering and Processing

Transmission

Distribution

Dehydrators Optimize Glycol Circulation and Install Flash Tank Separators in Glycol Dehydrators (pdf) (200.56 KB) $10,000-$50,000 0-1 year

Production

Gathering and Processing

Dehydrators Convert Natural Gas-Driven Chemical Pumps (pdf) (138.31 KB) $1,000-$10,000 1-3 years

Production

Gathering and Processing

Transmission

Dehydrators Convert Pneumatics to Mechanical Controls (pdf) (189.52 KB) $1,000-$10,000 1-3 years

Production

Gathering and Processing

Transmission

Distribution

Dehydrators Replacing Gas-Assisted Glycol Pumps with Electric Pumps (pdf) (302.07 KB) $1,000-$10,000 1-3 years

Production

Gathering and Processing

Dehydrators Replacing Glycol Dehydrators with Desiccant Dehydrators (pdf) (470.96 KB) $10,000-$50,000 1-3 years

Production

Gathering and Processing

Equipment Leaks Conduct Directed Inspection and Maintenance at Remote Sites (pdf) (64.11 KB) < $1,000 0-1 year

Transmission

Distribution

Equipment Leaks Directed Inspection and Maintenance at Gate Stations and Surface Facilities (pdf) (347.72 KB) $1,000-$10,000 0-1 year

Transmission

Distribution

Equipment Leaks Directed Inspection and Maintenance at Compressor Stations (pdf) (224.21 KB) $10,000-$50,000 0-1 year

Transmission

Distribution

Equipment Leaks Directed Inspection and Maintenance at Gas Processing Plants and Booster Stations (pdf) (240.74 KB) $10,000-$50,000 1-3 years Gathering and Processing
Equipment Leaks Increase Walking Survey from a 5- to 3- Year Basis (pdf) (61 KB) $1,000-$10,000 1-3 years

Transmission

Distribution

Pipelines Test and Repair Pressure Safety Valves (pdf) (123 KB) < $1,000 0-1 year

Production

Gathering and Processing

Transmission

Distribution

Pipelines Insert Gas Main Flexible Liners (pdf) (62.08 KB) $1,000-$10,000 0-1 year Distribution
Pipelines Composite Wrap for Non-Leaking Pipeline Defects (pdf) (202.46 KB) $1,000-$10,000 0-1 year

Transmission

Distribution

Pipelines Perform Valve Leak Repair During Pipeline Replacement (pdf) (73.59 KB) $1,000-$10,000 0-1 year

Transmission

Distribution

Pipelines Using Hot Taps for In Service Pipeline Connections (pdf) (228.58 KB) $10,000-$50,000 0-1 year

Transmission

Distribution

Pipelines Recover Gas from Pipeline Pigging Operations (pdf) (69.16 KB) $10,000-$50,000 0-1 year

Production

Gathering and Processing

Transmission

Pipelines Using Pipeline Pump-Down Techniques to Lower Gas Line Pressure Before Maintenance (pdf) (290.88 KB) > $50,000 0-1 year

Gathering and Processing

Transmission

Distribution

Pipelines Use Inert Gases and Pigs to Perform Pipeline Purges (pdf) (73.63 KB) $0 1-3 years

Gathering and Processing

Transmission

Distribution

Other Convert Natural Gas-Driven Chemical Pumps (pdf) (138.31 KB) $1,000-$10,000 1-3 years

Production

Gathering and Processing

Transmission

Pipelines Inject Blowdown Gas into Low Pressure Mains or Fuel Gas System (pdf) (69.35 KB) $1,000-$10,000 1-3 years

Transmission

Distribution

Pipelines Inspect Flowlines Annually (pdf) (65.98 KB) < $1,000 3-10 years Production
Pneumatics/ Controls Convert Gas Pneumatic Controls to Instrument Air (pdf) (313.86 KB) > $50,000 0-1 year

Production

Gathering and Processing

Transmission

Distribution

Pneumatics/ Controls Options for Reducing Methane Emissions From Pneumatic Devices in the Natural Gas Industry (pdf) (201.12 KB) < $1,000 1-3 years

Production

Gathering and Processing

Transmission

Distribution

Pneumatics/ Controls Convert Pneumatics to Mechanical Controls (pdf) (189.52 KB) $1,000-$10,000 1-3 years

Production

Gathering and Processing

Transmission

Distribution

Pneumatics/ Controls Convert Natural Gas-Driven Chemical Pumps (pdf) (138.31 KB) $1,000-$10,000 1-3 years

Production

Gathering and Processing

Transmission

Pneumatics/ Controls Replacing Gas-Assisted Glycol Pumps with Electric Pumps (pdf) (302.07 KB) $1,000-$10,000 1-3 years

Production

Gathering and Processing

Tanks Convert Water Tank Blanket from Natural Gas to Produced CO2 Gas (pdf) (63.11 KB) $1,000-$10,000 0-1 year Production
Tanks Eliminate Unnecessary Equipment and/or Systems (pdf) (64.32 KB) $1,000-$10,000 0-1 year

Production

Gathering and Processing

Transmission

Distribution

Tanks Recover Gas from Pipeline Pigging Operations (pdf) (69.16 KB) $10,000-$50,000 0-1 year

Production

Gathering and Processing

Transmission

Tanks Recover Gas During Condensate Loading (pdf) (72.37 KB) < $1,000 1-3 years

Production

Gathering and Processing

Transmission

Tanks Install Pressurized Storage of Condensate (pdf) (63 KB) $10,000-$50,000 1-3 years

Production

Gathering and Processing

Transmission

Tanks Installing Vapor Recovery Units on Storage Tanks (pdf) (203.58 KB) > $50,000 1-3 years Production
Valves Install BASO Valves (pdf) (63.29 KB) < $1,000 0-1 year Production
Valves Test and Repair Pressure Safety Valves (pdf) (123 KB) < $1,000 0-1 year

Production

Gathering and Processing

Transmission

Distribution

Valves Perform Valve Leak Repair During Pipeline Replacement (pdf) (73.59 KB) $1,000-$10,000 0-1 year

Transmission

Distribution

Valves Replace Burst Plates with Secondary Relief Valves (pdf) (61.8 KB) $1,000-$10,000 0-1 year

Production

Gathering and Processing

Transmission

Valves Install Excess Flow Valves (pdf) (74.53 KB) $1,000-$10,000 3-10 years Distribution
Wells Test and Repair Pressure Safety Valves (pdf) (123 KB) < $1,000 0-1 year

Production

Gathering and Processing

Transmission

Distribution

Wells Connect Casing to Vapor Recovery Unit (pdf) (60.7 KB) $1,000-$10,000 0-1 year Production
Wells Installing Plunger Lift Systems in Gas Wells (pdf) (298 KB) $1,000-$10,000 0-1 year Production
Wells Install Compressors to Capture Casinghead Gas (pdf) (73.78 KB) $10,000-$50,000 0-1 year Production
Wells Reduced Emission Completions for Hydraulically Fractured Natural Gas Wells (pdf) (219.75 KB) > $50,000 0-1 year Production
Wells Convert Natural Gas-Driven Chemical Pumps (pdf) (138.31 KB) $1,000-$10,000 1-3 years

Production

Gathering and Processing

Transmission

Wells Convert Pneumatics to Mechanical Controls (pdf) (189.52 KB) $1,000-$10,000 1-3 years

Production

Gathering and Processing

Transmission

Distribution

Wells Options for Removing Accumulated Fluid and Improving Flow in Gas Wells (pdf) (755.66 KB) $10,000-$50,000 1-3 years Production
Other Reduce Frequency of Replacing Modules in Turbine Meters (pdf) (59.75 KB) $0 0-1 year

Transmission

Distribution

Other Redesign Blowdown Systems and Alter Emergency Shutdown Practices (pdf) (78.22 KB) $1,000-$10,000 0-1 year Transmission
Other Eliminate Unnecessary Equipment and/or Systems (pdf) (64.32 KB) $1,000-$10,000 0-1 year

Production

Gathering and Processing

Transmission

Distribution

Other Install Flares (pdf) (62.29 KB) $10,000-$50,000 0-1 year

Production

Transmission

Other Nitrogen Rejection Unit Optimization (pdf) (88.85 KB) > $50,000 0-1 year Gathering and Processing
Other Test and Repair Pressure Safety Valves (pdf) (123 KB) < $1,000 0-1 year

Production

Gathering and Processing

Transmission

Distribution

Other Install Electronic Flare Ignition Devices (pdf) (66.89 KB) $1,000-$10,000 1-3 years

Production

Gathering and Processing

Transmission

Distribution

Other Replace Bi-Directional Orifice Metering with Ultrasonic Meters (pdf) (63.43 KB) > $50,000 1-3 years

Transmission

Distribution

Contact Us to ask a question, provide feedback, or report a problem.
Last updated on May 18, 2022
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