Quantifying and reporting methane emissions in a credible manner is one of the most complex challenges facing the oil and gas (O&G) sector. Generic bottom-up inventories – originally used for regulatory reporting – are being replaced with measurement-informed inventories (MIIs) that leverage company-specific data and often require comparing and combining distinct estimates in a process called reconciliation.
A growing number of regulations (Europe, Colorado) and voluntary initiatives (OGMP 2.0, MiQ, Veritas) now require MIIs. Proactive companies also want to use MIIs to establish realistic baselines, set targets, track progress, and allocate capital to emissions reduction projects.
Last week, the team at Highwood was jazzed to make a big announcement. Since 2023, we’ve been working alongside a steering committee of industry partners to better understand, analyze, and report methane emissions. The work has culminated in a new software platform called EIP, which is unlike any other digital solution for methane. In this article I’ll introduce you to EIP and to the steering committee that helped develop the world’s first measurement-based methane accounting platform.
The Emissions Intelligence Steering Committee (EISC)
In late 2023, several of our customers approached us to see if we could help them with MIIs. Our consulting team had already been working on OGMP 2.0 reporting for clients and were acquainted with the common problems in moving from generic inventories to MIIs.
The critical issue they faced was that available standards and protocols were based on general principles, but did not guide operators on the specifics of how to implement them. For example, a standard might ask operators to “estimate uncertainty on a bottom-up inventory” or “estimate below-MDL emissions”. These are very complex undertakings that could be approached in different ways – leading to different results.
Our customers were also frustrated about needing multiple sets of books, ostensibly proving the same thing, but with very different results. At least two of our clients had methane inventories for state reporting, federal reporting, OGMP 2.0, an internal “best estimate”, and then experimental inventories (e.g., piloting the Veritas protocols).
Finally, there was recognition that reasonable assurance of MIIs via independent auditing had begun and would soon be widespread. There is a ton of complexity and inconsistency in using MIIs – creating ideal conditions for human error that could compromise an audit.
Through these conversations, Highwood recognized a critical gap in methane accounting: the need for scalable, auditable, and consistent workflows to support MII development. Recognizing the need to build consensus around a common solution, we established the Emissions Intelligence Steering Committee (EISC), bringing together four leading O&G companies, with dozens of operated assets in all parts of the world.
EISC was (and continues to be) tasked with collaboratively guiding the development of EIP through research, prototyping, group discussions, and product validation sessions. By joining forces and working alongside Highwood, EISC members could leverage wisdom of the crowd, share the costs of development, and stand behind a common, credible approach.
What is EIP?
Built by industry, for industry, EIP is the world’s first measurement-focused methane accounting solution. EIP gets you (way) closer to your true emissions, delivering clarity and de-risking the journey to credible low-methane natural gas and improved operational efficiency. Please excuse me for a second while I brag about some of the cool things EIP can do:
- Workflow management. “On the rails” OGMP 2.0 and Veritas workflow sequencing that prevents common errors arising from interdependencies among site data, bottom-up inventories, source-level measurements, and top-down measurements.
- Methodological harmonization. We designed a single proprietary implementation of common standards that checks many boxes at once (OGMP 2.0, Veritas, MiQ, EU, CDPHE), addressing the “multiple sets of books” problem.
- Emission factor generation. Calculation of emission factors form source-level measurements that apply to specific source categories or sub-categories.
- Emissions annualization. Spatial and temporal extrapolation of snapshot emission rate measurements to derive annual estimates.
- Uncertainty automation. Bottom-up and top-down uncertainty estimation, following robust scientific principles and rolled up to an annual total.
- Reconciliation breakdown. Tools and visualizations for inventory comparison and data fusion, alongside auditable decision logs for tracking rationale.
- Data conditioning. Hard-coded technology performance from peer-review (probability of detection, measurement errors), below detection threshold estimation, calculation and incorporation of inferred non-detects.
- Source category mapping. Upload and conversion of any bottom-up inventory and any source- or site-level measurement data into user-defined standard source categories, enabling apples-to-apples comparisons.
Why is EIP a gamechanger?
We have heard that some O&G companies have had negative experiences with other methane software. We are often asked: “Why is Highwood any different?” Here are a few reasons.
First, and most importantly, we have industry-leading, reputable partners who believe in us. Before working with a methane vendor, always ask for a list of customer references. Highwood has lots – just ask and we’ll put you in touch!
Second, we are backed by world-class consulting. Our consultants were solving these problems for leading energy companies long before we leveraged their experiences to build software. Those consultants are still busy supporting our customers as they use EIP and as we continue to innovate. Our consultants are still recognized among the world’s foremost methane experts. No other software vendor is backed by the same deep O&G and emissions expertise.
Third, our implementation is a walk in the park. We’ve heard the horror stories – two-year implementations, millions of dollars, and massive headaches. Some of our implementations take days, while others take a few weeks. We promise to get EIP customers realizing value in less than a month.
Finally, EIP is for everyone. We commonly get asked, “Do I need to be an OGMP 2.0 signatory to use EIP?” The answer is “no”. We have a large, multinational customer who is not an OGMP signatory, but uses EIP to get more accurate data for internal reporting and business intelligence. Bad data is a distraction at best and harmful at worst. Now’s the time to invest in getting closer to the truth.
Looking Ahead: EIP’s Role in Shaping the Future
The launch of EIP marks a pivotal moment in methane management. In 2025, we will continue to work with EISC members to improve EIP functionality, ensuring that it remains adaptable to evolving methane technologies, standards, and expectations. With a roadmap that includes enhancements in UNEP-compliant reporting and alignment with EU import rules, EIP is poised to set the standard for methane accountability globally.
Highwood and EISC members invite more O&G companies to join this journey. By adopting EIP, companies not only streamline operations but also develop a much deeper awareness, promoting long-term resilience in an uncertain and rapidly evolving industry.
Curious to learn more about EIP? Learn more here.
