Emission controls are an urgent matter
US oil sector champions methane controls
Biden administration hopes to fast-track emission restrictions, a popular measure among many large-cap operators
The US oil patch is getting behind a Democrat effort to reimpose regulations on methane emissions. Operators including ExxonMobil, BP, Shell, Total, US independent Occidental Petroleum and Norway’s Equinor all back reinstating limits. Former president Donald Trump revoked regulations last year, despite disapproval among many major operators. But after a year of poor revenue returns, companies waking up to ESG investor concerns and a new president pledging to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) by up to 52pc by 2030, emission controls are again an urgent matter. The shale patch hopes natural gas will serve as an important bridging fuel for the energy transition—especially given forecasts
Also in this section
2 April 2026
Alongside a rapid continued build-out of renewables, China’s latest five-year plan stresses the value of domestic hydrocarbon production for energy security and calls for increased Russian gas imports
2 April 2026
The government is taking important steps to revive domestic production, lift investment and benefit from the geopolitical crisis even if more needs to be done in the longer term
1 April 2026
Golden Pass’s startup offers QatarEnergy a timely boost but may also force a difficult choice between honouring disrupted contracts and capitalising on soaring spot LNG prices
1 April 2026
It is not a case of if or when, but the length and magnitude of economic damage from elevated oil prices
