Methane emissions: Another Gold for reporting

• Third year in a row: Highest standard for transparent and comprehensible reporting
• International leak detection and repair (LDAR) campaign is supplying data

For the third year in a row, Wintershall Dea has been awarded the gold standard by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) for its engagement and pathway to reducing methane emissions. “We aim to produce gas and oil as cleanly and safely as possible – and only for as long as we need it, too,” says Mario Mehren, CEO of Wintershall Dea. “Part of these efforts is to continue reducing methane emissions, and we can do this best if we have reliable data.”

In its annual International Methane Emissions Observatory (IMEO) report, the UNEP publishes the data and progress of the participating companies related to methane emissions in a transparent and comprehensible manner. The data and progress are assessed in accordance with the stringent OGMP 2.0 regulations. Initiated by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the Oil & Gas Methane Partnership 2.0 (OGMP 2.0) assists companies in their efforts to reduce methane emissions and currently represents the highest standard for methane reporting. Today’s members include the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), the European Commission and more than 100 companies from the gas and oil industry.

LDAR in Germany, Egypt and Mexico

Wintershall Dea has been systematically pursuing leak detection and repair (LDAR) efforts since 2021 – especially at production facilities in Germany, Egypt, Algeria and Mexico. Drones with sensors are also being used to take measurements at the production sites from the air so as to verify the data obtained by the LDAR programmes at the ground level. The company is working closely with partners and operators to measure and reduce methane emissions in partner-operated plants, to reduce flaring and to boost energy efficiency. 

The recently published IMEO 2023 Report provides the latest data from the industry and OGMP 2.0 member companies, including analyses. 
The report places particular emphasis on the transition from generic estimation methods to empirical measurements of emissions, which will enable companies to organise their mitigation efforts in a more strategic and efficient manner. You can download the IMEO 2023 report here.

In addition to OGMP 2.0, Wintershall Dea is also involved in the following voluntary initiatives aimed at reducing emissions: IPIECA (global oil and gas association for advancing environmental and social performance across the energy transition), Aiming for Zero Methane Emissions of the OGCI (Oil and Gas Climate Initiative), the Zero Routine Flaring initiative (World Bank), and the MGP (Methane Guiding Principles).

_{About Wintershall Dea}

_{Wintershall Dea is transforming from the leading European independent gas and oil company to become a leading European independent gas and carbon management company. We have more than 120 years of experience as an operator and project partner along the entire E&P value chain. The company with German roots and headquarters in Kassel and Hamburg explores for and produces gas and oil in 11 countries worldwide in an efficient and responsible manner. With activities in Europe, Latin America and the MENA region (Middle East & North Africa), Wintershall Dea has a global upstream portfolio and, with its participation in natural gas transport, is also active in the midstream business. And we develop carbon management and low-carbon hydrogen projects to contribute to climate goals and secure energy supplies. More in our Annual Report.}

_{As a European gas and oil company, we support the EU’s 2050 carbon neutrality target. As our contribution, we have set ourselves ambitious targets: We want to be net zero across our entire upstream operations – both operated and non-operated – by 2030. This includes Scope 1 (direct) and Scope 2 (indirect) greenhouse gas emissions on an equity share basis. Wintershall Dea will also bring its methane emissions intensity below 0.1 per cent by 2025. We endorsed the World Bank’s Initiative ‘Zero Routine Flaring by 2030’ and continue to support the initiative aimed at eliminating routine flaring in operated assets by 2030. In addition, we plan to support global decarbonisation efforts by building up a carbon management and hydrogen business to potentially abate 20-30 million tonnes of CO2 per annum by 2040. You can find more about this in our Sustainability Report.}

_{Wintershall Dea was formed from the merger of Wintershall Holding GmbH and DEA Deutsche Erdoel AG in 2019. Today, the company employs more than 2,000 people worldwide from almost 60 nations.}