Bringing the Next Methane Blindspot into Focus

Methane has moved beyond an environmental topic. It’s fast becoming the currency of credibility in the energy industry. While production has received the spotlight, the shipping leg of the LNG value chain is the next blind spot coming into focus.

Driven partially by the European Union Methane Regulation (EUMR), which applies methane emissions reporting and intensity limits on liquified natural gas (LNG) imports, oil and gas operators are starting to measure what was previously largely uninvestigated: emissions during loading, transport, and unloading.

By stacking shipping emissions with upstream well-to-water data, operators can build a defensible well-to-wake emissions supply chain profile — one that turns transparency into a competitive edge.

Why LNG Shipping Matters

Methane emissions are under the microscope as global stakeholders demand accountability. The oil and gas industry is the largest man-made source of methane emissions, and LNG plays a critical role on a global scale. Estimates suggest that between 15-30% of global natural gas production ultimately moves as LNG.  

The U.S. leads the globe in LNG exports with Canada quickly expanding capacity. The US is also rapidly increasing its LNG export capacity. Europe imports roughly 90% of its natural gas as LNG.  

For the EU, controlling methane along the supply chain is a direct lever to meet climate commitments, and starting in 2027, EU importers must report methane emissions associated with imported energy products, like LNG, coal, and oil, with intensity limits applying in 2030.  

As a result, operators are seeking to better understand the emissions associated with LNG shipment, which have not previously been required to be measured or reported. 

Advantages from Measurement

Montrose partnered with global operators to understand emissions from LNG shipments. Our campaigns to date focused on two key areas:

FTIR Incomplete Combustion (Methane Slip) Testing

Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) stack testing is the best-in-class option for accurate methane slip emissions quantification. Our teams spend several days, sometimes weeks, aboard LNG vessels, measuring emissions across main engines fueled by boil-off gas (BOG) or low-sulfur fuel oil (LSFO) and diesel auxiliary generators. This allows crews to collect data in multiple operating conditions, and often multiple locations, that have been found to influence combustion efficiency, including engine load. 

Incomplete combustion emissions vary significantly based on fuel type, load, and engine make & model. Montrose has found that BOG fuel has shown the lowest methane emissions across all loads, with LSFO-fueled primary engines and diesel auxiliary engines emitting significantly more. The variability observed across fuel types underscores why testing in multiple conditions is essential.  

Operators calculate annual emissions estimates from the methane slip using a combination of FTIR stack test results and operational process data. Direct measurement has shown that measurement-based emissions from LNG vessels often differ from those calculated with dated emission factors. Without measurement-based verification, operators risk mis-stating their true methane footprint. 

Why Early Action Matters

Operators are balancing business objectives with a changing global environment, stakeholder pressures, and emerging technology that is making methane emissions visible remotely.  

Operators that invest in rigorous measurement now are doing more than preparing for compliance. They’re gaining operational intelligence, protecting market access, and building credibility with investors and partners. Methane transparency is evolving into competitive currency, and LNG shippers have a clear choice, lead or follow. 

Montrose teams are already helping global operators get ahead of these expectations. 

Contact us to learn how Montrose can help you achieve your emissions measurement and reduction goals.

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