In recent years, Europe has taken many positive measures to address climate change, especially in reducing methane emissions. On the basis of the EU's regulatory framework including the European Green Deal and the Methane Strategy, the first EU Methane Regulation ((EU) 2024/1787) ("Methane Regulation") has been already released and entered into force on 4 August 2024, which is targeted to halt the release of methane into the atmosphere from produced and consumed energy, especially the gas flaring and gas venting, requiring operators to conduct effective leak detection and repair (LDAR) surveys and limit the emission of methane.
In recognition of new methane regulation that focus on methane emission and sustainability of energy sector, operator should prepare for the increasingly stringent regulation and growing requirements for methane mitigation. A clear timeline now has been set for operators in energy sector to take effective measures to comply with the regulatory requirements.
Deadline | Compliance Requirement |
Monitoring and Reporting | |
| 5-Aug-25 | Operators must submit a report containing source-level methane emissions estimated using at least generic emission factors. |
| 5-Feb-26 | Operators must submit a report containing source-level methane emissions using specific emission factors or sampling (for operated assets). |
| 5-Feb-27 | Operators must submit a report containing source-level methane emissions quantification and site-level measurements (for operated assets). |
| 5-Aug-28 | Operators must submit a report containing source-level methane emissions quantification and site-level measurements (for non-operated assets). |
Leak Detection and Repair (LDAR) | |
| 5-May-25 | Existing sites must submit an LDAR program; new sites must submit within 6 months of operations starting. |
| 5-Aug-25 | Existing sites must complete the first type 2 LDAR survey; new sites must complete within 9 months of operations starting. |
| Restrictions on Venting and Flaring | |
| 5-Feb-26 | Existing sites must comply with venting and flaring restrictions; new sites must comply within 12 months of operations starting. |
| Inactive Wells, Temporarily Plugged Wells, and Permanently Plugged and Abandoned Wells | |
| 5-Aug-25 | Member States must establish and make publicly available an inventory of inactive, temporarily plugged, and permanently plugged and abandoned wells. |
5-May-26 | Operators must submit a report containing methane emissions quantification for inactive and temporarily plugged wells. |
| Monitoring and Reporting in the Coal Sector | |
| 5-Aug-25 | Mine operators must submit an annual report containing source-level methane emissions data. |
| Information Provision by Importers | |
| 5-May-25 | Importers must provide information to the competent authorities of the Member State in which they are established, including measures taken by exporters and third-country producers to monitor, report, and mitigate methane emissions. |
The recent key deadlines for operators
According to the new methane regulation, the first key deadline set for May 2025 is kicking off, which drives operators in energy sector to implement new processes, scale resources, and adopt innovative technologies to stay compliant and ensure methane reductions in compliance with new regulation as soon as possible.
In response to the increasing need for methane detection and emission monitoring in the energy industry, Cubic, a leading manufacturer of gas sensors and gas analyzers, has leveraged a range of advanced technology platforms, including ultrasonic technology, tunable diode laser absorption spectroscopy (TDLAS) technology, Laser Raman technology and Non-dispersive infrared (NDIR) technology, and has successfully developed a complete set of gas sensing solutions, encompassing gas sensors, and gas flow meters, high-end gas analyzers, all of which feature impressive accuracy and high reliability, well-suited for methane emission monitoring through upstream to downstream process in the energy sector.
Methane Emission Monitoring & Quantification Solutions
Dedicated to the provision of efficient methane emissions solutions in energy sector, Cubic has developed a series of high-precision methane sensors based on its mature TDLAS technology, which are adaptable for different application scenarios.
Cubic TDLAS methane sensor series features rapid response time with a warm-up time of less than 10 seconds. It guarantees consistent performance in complex environments and severe working conditions by applying the temperature compensation algorithm and self-diagnosis function. It also features an intelligent power consumption design and a lifespan of over 10 years.
High Precision TDLAS Methane (CH4) Sensor
Cubic High Precision TDLAS Methane (CH4) Sensor, Gasboard-2502, features high sensitivity, excellent stability, strong anti-interference ability, and long lifetime. It delivers superior accuracy with a minimum detection limit of 1ppm and a resolution of 0.1ppm and can even achieve the performance of 2% of reading accuracy within 0-100ppm range.
Wide Range TDLAS Methane (CH4) Sensor
Cubic Wide Range TDLAS Methane (CH4) Sensor, Gasboard-2501, features great stability, high reliability, low power consumption, enhanced fast response, and long lifetime. It offers an accuracy of ±5% LEL of the reading within the range of 0~100% LEL.
Small Size TDLAS Methane (CH4) Sensor
Cubic Small Size TDLAS CH4 Sensor, Gasboard-2503, weighs only 480g and has dimensions of 50 × 162 mm. It also can achieve high accuracy of ±2 ppm + 2% of reading @0~100ppm, while characterized by low power consumption and ease of integration for drones.
Furthermore, Cubic has also developed Methane (CH4) Emission Monitoring OEM Solution, including fixed, vehicle-based, and drone-based methane detection systems for methane emissions monitoring in the energy sector. Based on self-developed core sensor technologies, Cubic offers end-to-end capabilities across the entire product development cycle, encompassing sensor solutions, hardware design, software development, mold development, prototype testing, and industrial device manufacturing.
With superior reliable and credible real-time methane emissions monitoring solutions, Cubic could help operators in energy sector to reduce methane emissions and improve the reliability and credibility of methane emissions management.
Natural Gas Composition & Calorific Value Solutions
Following EU methane regulations, it also emphasize the importance of flare combustion efficiency. For instance, Article 17 mandates that flares be equipped with automatic igniters or continuous pilots, with inspections required every 15 days. It also mandates that flare systems be designed to achieve a 99% Destruction and Removal Efficiency (DRE), ensuring minimal emissions.
Designed to enhance flare combustion efficiency, Cubic has developed an advanced In-situ gas composition Analyzer based on Laser Raman Spectroscopy principle, to help prevent the release of unburned methane (CH₄) into the atmosphere, providing a more efficient and straightforward solution in contrast to traditional Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) method which lacks real-time measurement capability and requires the use of carrier gases.
Cubic In-situ Laser Raman Analyzer presents high-precision measurement performance and extremely low drift. It provides real-time measurement of gas composition and calorific value before combustion, delivering crucial data to control systems for precise air-fuel ratio adjustments, which ensures complete combustion, to further reduce emissions and support compliance with stringent environmental regulations for oil and gas operators.
Natural Gas Metering Solutions
Gas metering is essential for quantifying the volume of natural gas in energy sector, especially for flaring process. Accurate measurement helps in tracking gas losses, optimizing operations, and ensuring regulatory compliance. The flow rate, which measures the gas volume per unit of time, is a critical parameter in managing gas resources efficiently.
To support efficient resource management and financial accountability in the energy sector, Cubic has adopted ultrasonic technology to develop natural gas flow meter, DN series, to measure the inlet gas to ensure the amount before flaring gas. It provides precise measurement of gas flow, supplying essential data for the gas flaring process. By continuously monitoring and controlling the gas supply, the flow meter ensures the burner operates at optimal efficiency, improving combustion performance and reducing harmful emissions. Additionally, flow meter data is vital for energy consumption monitoring and optimization, leak detection, and safety management.
With its multipath design to detect multiple flow profiles, Cubic ultrasonic gas flow meter excels at eliminating turbulence and asymmetric gas flow impact. The innovative design not only provides redundancy capability but also enables the flow meter to operate seamlessly even in the face of a channel failure, showcasing its unwavering reliability. By incorporating pressure and temperature sensors, Cubic ultrasonic gas flow meter can convert gas volume measured under actual conditions to standard conditions (20 ℃, 101.3 kPa) for fair measurement.
Designed for versatility, Cubic ultrasonic gas flow meter is well-suited for accurate gas metering to help minimize economic losses, and optimize flaring practices to reduce environmental impact.
In conclusion, Cubic' s state-of-the-art gas sensing technologies and solutions provide a comprehensive approach that incorporates gas metering, gas composition analysis, calorific value measurement, and gas emission monitoring, designed to effectively address the challenges in methane measurement, and help operators to optimize operational efficiency and comply with the new regulations, moving toward cleaner and more responsible energy production.
To know more detailed information, please contact: sales@gassensor.com.cn or visit the website: https://www.cubic-methane-detection.com/
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