Shell Achieves A Rating for Methane Emissions from MiQ Certification in the Gulf of Mexico

MiQ Certifies Shell's Entire Production Portfolio in the Gulf of Mexico

In a groundbreaking announcement, MiQ, a leading global organization dedicated to methane emissions certification, has confirmed that Shell Offshore Inc.'s entire production portfolio in the Gulf of Mexico (GoM) has received an outstanding A rating regarding its methane emissions performance. This certification makes Shell the first operator to achieve this prestigious recognition in the GoM, highlighting the company's commitment to environmental excellence.

Achieving the A Rating

To secure the A certification, Shell’s production assets in the Gulf of Mexico underwent an extensive external audit in accordance with MiQ's methane emissions standards. This achievement reflects a compelling combination of low methane intensity and robust business practices alongside sophisticated methane monitoring programs designed to detect and mitigate emissions. The assets evaluated include 10 production sites, all meeting the stringent criteria set forth by MiQ.

MiQ operates as a non-profit dedicated to providing independent and reliable data about methane emissions within the oil and gas sector. Its mission aims to accelerate the global reduction of methane emissions and to set a standard for transparency and accountability in the field. As part of this initiative, every operator collaborating with MiQ is required to engage an auditor to perform an annual, thorough on-site assessment of natural gas production, complying with MiQ's stringent standards.

A Milestone for Independent Certification

This certification is also a significant milestone for MiQ as it extends the verification of methane emissions into offshore crude oil production. As the inaugural international energy company to attain this independent certification for its offshore crude production, Shell is establishing best practices for monitoring, reporting, and verification processes. This is crucial as the company operates within one of the world's regions that showcase the lowest greenhouse gas (GHG) intensity for oil production.

Between 2016 and 2025, Shell successfully reduced its methane emissions by 40% in the Gulf of Mexico while simultaneously increasing its production levels by 40%. Globally, Shell is a founding signatory of the Oil and Gas Methane Partnership (OGMP) version 2.0 and has achieved Gold Standard status for its global operations in the last reporting year, 2024.

Currently, MiQ certifies over 30% of U.S. natural gas production and more than 7% of the global gas supply. Its certification framework is recognized across numerous regions, including the U.S., Canada, Netherlands, United Kingdom, Japan, and the EU. MiQ collaborates with governments, regulators, and operators to advance methane transparency in key producing and importing markets.

Georges Tijbosch, CEO of MiQ, stated, "Shell's certification in the Gulf of Mexico represents another milestone for transparency in methane emissions and illustrates how operators can prepare for an environment where reliable emission data is vital for regulatory compliance and market access. MiQ's certification system is a proven market solution that facilitates rapid methane emissions reductions from oil and gas by providing dependable data on emissions."

In response, Mahamat Abdelsalam, Shell's Vice President of Safety and Environment for the Gulf of Mexico, emphasized, "This A rating certification showcases our operational excellence and our rigorous execution in offshore production. We continuously design and operate our assets to competitively produce more barrels with lower carbon intensity."

The reference to Shell's GoM production being among the lowest GHG intensity globally reflects a comparison with other oil-producing and gas-producing members of the International Oil and Gas Producers (IOGP) group.

About MiQ

MiQ is the world’s leading non-profit organization dedicated to methane emissions certification and data. The organization’s mission is to facilitate the reduction of methane emissions by providing a credible and transparent certification system that drives regulatory compliance, encourages continuous improvement, and ensures accountability throughout the entire oil and gas supply chain.