Understanding MiQ Elements: Company Practices

In part 1 of our MiQ series, “MiQ 101: Understanding This Natural Gas Certification, Its Impact, and the Audit Process,” we introduced the MiQ standard – a leading certification framework for natural gas that verifies methane emissions performance. The blog outlined the three core elements of MiQ certification: Methane Intensity (MI), Company Practices (CP), and Monitoring Technology Deployment (MTD).

This second article dives deeper into the Company Practices (CP) element, used to assess and verify an operator facility’s environmental performance including options to enhance an MiQ certification grade. This supports a commitment to sustainability, improved operational efficiency, and alignment with regulatory and market demands for methane emissions reduction.

What is CP?

The CP element of the MiQ Standard defines mandatory emissions management and minimization practices operators must follow to qualify for MiQ Certification. This element also proposes more advanced, improved practices an operator can implement in order to achieve a higher certification grade.

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Required company practices are divided into several categories based on which natural gas or petroleum segment the facility operates. The most common categories are (1) general practices, (2) practices for unintended emissions, and (3) practices for intended emissions.

1) General Company Practices

The General Practices category aims to minimize a facility’s emissions to the highest degree possible by building a culture around emissions maintenance and minimization activities. According to this category, methane management is central to the culture of the organization. Relevant practices are adopted and implemented across and throughout the entire organization (e.g., from the boardroom to the operations field technicians). The general practices listed below are mandatory regardless of operating segment:

• Employee Training and Awareness: All operations staff receive, at a minimum, annual or otherwise periodic training to emphasize the importance of eliminating emissions. Training includes what equipment is most likely to leak, illustrates how to observe and record leaks, and defines how to log emissions for the purpose of annual emissions calculations.
• Reporting Emissions Observations and Incidents: All staff have access to an emissions reporting system with a clearly defined chain of command and notification process. The system includes recordkeeping guidance for leaks detected outside of routine leak detection and repair (LDAR) inspections.
• Estimating and Measuring Emissions: At minimum, an operator’s guidance for emissions measurement and calculation processes for all emission sources at or within the facility and a quantification method for each source. Reconciliation processes, based on measurement practices, are included and mandatory for any unintended sources.
• Continual Improvement: Best emissions elimination practices are documented and communicated through training, educational material, bulletin programs, or related messaging. Key performance metrics for emissions are tracked throughout the facility and are regularly communicated out to all staff.

Operators in the LNG segment can be awarded an additional “improved” grade points for including the following practice:

• Low Carbon Energy Supply: To the greatest extent possible, all electricity imported, purchased or generated on-site at a facility is generated from renewable sources.

2) Company Practices for Managing and Reducing Unintended Emissions

This category comprises practices which increase awareness and management of areas where unintended, or fugitive, emissions occur. These practices are mandatory regardless of operating segment.

• Employee Training and Awareness: Like the general training practice above, operations and field personnel receive annual audial, visual and olfactory (AVO) training to check for emissions during routine site visits. Operators conduct LDAR method-specific training as required for Method 21 or Optical Gas Imaging. Third-party surveys require documentation of the training records of personnel.
• Source-level Detection Plan: An LDAR plan which outlines, at a minimum, equipment/components included in the LDAR requirements, monitoring methodology, repairs or replacement strategies, repair verifications, recordkeeping requirements, and clearly defined roles and responsibilities for a facility.

Operators in the LNG and Production segments have an additional mandatory practice:

• Managing Emissions from Tanks: Operators with tanks must ensure that emissions policies and procedures address all stages of tank use including those potential emissions produced during filling, storage, removal and maintenance. Engineering controls should be employed to remotely monitor tank health and key sources of emissions.

Additional “improved” grade points can be awarded for the following practices:

• Directed Inspection and Maintenance Program (DIMP): Major equipment is targeted for observation and cumulative data is used to formulate preventative maintenance plans. Targeted equipment is chosen based on historical data from LDAR inspection records. Proactive or predictive processes employed by an operator may be considered here as knowledge of emission sources is compiled.
• Reduced Leak Components (LNG Operators only): Components that reduce leak risk are installed across a minimum of at least 50% of two equipment types or 100% of one equipment type.
• Root Cause Analysis (RCA) of Unintended Emission Events: RCA procedures describe the process of conducting an analysis to determine the cause of unintended emissions events. Documentation includes corrective actions taken and methods to communicate and prevent reoccurrence.

3) Company Practices for Managing and Reducing Intended Emissions

The company practices in this category vary the most between operating segments. In general, this category focuses on mitigating emissions from sources that, by design or definition, have the potential to release methane to the atmosphere during normal operations. Examples of these sources include compressors (both reciprocating and centrifugal), storage tanks, pneumatic devices, well completions, pipelines, flares, combustion equipment, and vents.

Many of the mandatory practices in this category focus on proper maintenance and inventory verification of all emission sources. All operational processes must be carried out according to industry standards, and any operational repairs should be attempted during routine maintenance as to mitigate the need to vent to atmosphere.

CP Grade or Scoring

Through a series of interviews and on-site audit practices, an operator is evaluated on their adherence to procedures and emissions management leading to grading. The following two tables provide the scoring rubric for the CP element for natural gas and petroleum operations, respectively.

While each element is graded individually, the overall grade for certificated gas is based on the lowest element grade achieved for any element. An operator must meet certain minimum requirements for MI, CP, and MTD in order to achieve a certain grade. Where an operator has made procedural and/or process improvements beyond the MiQ standard, additional (improvement) points may be acquired, further elevating the grade for the applicable element.

Key Takeaways of Company Practices

1. MiQ Certification: MiQ is a leading framework that certifies natural gas operations based on methane emissions performance, practices, and monitoring.
2. Company Practices (CP): This element defines mandatory emissions management practices operators must follow for MiQ certification, with additional advanced practices for higher grades. It includes three key categories:
   1. General Practices: Mandatory practices like employee training, emissions reporting, and continual improvement.
   2. Unintended Emissions: Practices for managing fugitive emissions, including leak detection training and a comprehensive LDAR plan.
   3. Intended Emissions: Focuses on managing emissions from sources with potential to emit methane, such as compressors and storage tanks.
3. Improvement Opportunities: Operators can earn “improved” grade points for practices such as implementing proactive maintenance, reducing leak risks, and conducting root cause analyses for unintended emission events.
4. Scoring System: Operators are graded based on their adherence to CP practices. Grades range from A to F, with additional points awarded for advanced practices. The overall certification grade depends on the lowest grade achieved across MI, CP, and MTD elements.

Ready to Get Started?

MiQ certification requires a rigorous, independent audit to verify methane emissions performance, company practices, and monitoring technologies. With Montrose as your audit partner, you gain access to a team of accredited experts who bring deep industry knowledge, regulatory insight, and hands-on experience in emissions measurement and verification. As an RMI-certified auditor for all MiQ operational standards, Montrose provides an objective, transparent evaluation that ensures your certification process is both credible and efficient. Whether you’re seeking to certify a single facility or multiple operations, Montrose can guide you through gap analysis, audit preparation, and compliance alignment—helping you achieve a strong MiQ rating that enhances your marketability, regulatory standing, and environmental leadership. Get in touch today to take the next step toward MiQ certification with confidence.

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