As the third-largest of the seven Big Oil companies, France’s TotalEnergies has committed to being a leader in the fight against climate change through decarbonization. At the 28th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) in 2023, Patrick Pouyanné, Chairman and CEO of TotalEnergies, launched a new program aimed at accelerating climate change initiatives, called the Oil & Gas Decarbonization Charter (OGDC). The ultimate goal of OGDC is to achieve near-zero net methane emissions by 2030. Co-spearheading the project with Mr. Pouyanné are Sultan Al Jaber, CEO of the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), and Amin Nasser, CEO of Aramco.

The first phase of OGDC involves collecting data from around the world through participating COP entities. “A survey of oil and gas industry climate performance has never been attempted on this scale,” said Bjorn Otto Sverdrup, head of the OGDC Secretariat. “Participants ranged from companies that pioneered decarbonization decades ago to those still in the early phases – all with different capabilities and reporting methods. The lessons learned will be used to improve reporting visibility and data quality and to create more targeted programs.”

In preparation for data collection of this magnitude, TotalEnergies enlisted the help of the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS) and the University of Reims Champagne-Ardenne. Working together, the two institutions developed a new drone system for detecting and collecting methane data, called AUSEA. As explained by TotalEnergies, “The AUSEA technology comprises a drone-mounted, ultralight CO2 and CH4 sensor for ensuring access to hard-to-reach emission points while delivering readings with the highest precision. The sensor features a diode laser spectrometer and is capable of detecting and quantifying methane emissions with a high level of accuracy (> 1 kg/h).”

Excessive methane emissions are one of the leading causes of climate change. These emissions mostly come from livestock, fossil fuels, decomposing landfill waste, and rice production. Research gathered by Statista in 2022 revealed that India, the United States, and China were the world’s largest methane producers, emitting roughly 30 million tonnes of methane. In a November 11, 2024 press release, TotalEnergies announced that Oil India Limited (OIL) had signed on as one of the 54 entities joining the OGDC project and would begin working with AUSEA technology immediately.

OIL is set to deploy the drone detection system at multiple sites to gather data on the exact amounts and locations of methane emissions. The data collected will provide OIL with a framework for addressing fossil fuel leaks and minimizing agricultural emissions. “By joining our peers in the OGDC, OIL reiterates India’s commitment to the global community, while underscoring OIL’s dedication to reducing emissions,” said Dr. Ranjit Rath, Chairman and Managing Director of OIL. “OIL is pleased to be collaborating with TotalEnergies, an industry pioneer in methane emissions detection and measurement.”

Mr. Pouyanné went on to explain that the AUSEA drone program is just the beginning of the effort to achieve the near-zero net emission goals of OGDC. With the validation of the trial program being used at OIL sites, Mr. Pouyanné hopes to expand the drone data collection process into a more permanent program. “Slashing down methane emissions is a short-term priority to contribute to the fight against climate change. Continuous, real-time detection will enable our operators to act in an even more decisive manner in order to reduce our methane emissions and to repair leaks to achieve our near-zero methane emissions ambition,” he said. “As a champion of the Oil & Gas Decarbonization Charter (OGDC), I am proud that TotalEnergies is leading the way in deploying such equipment at large scale and we will continue to work with the industry to share best practices in measuring and fighting methane emissions.”

As the world faces increasing pressure to address climate change, the collaboration between industry leaders like TotalEnergies, OIL, ADNOC, and Aramco under OGDC is a critical step toward achieving meaningful progress. With innovative technologies like the AUSEA drone system, these companies are setting a powerful example of how the oil and gas sector can take proactive measures to reduce methane emissions and contribute to a more sustainable future. The continued success of initiatives like OGDC will not only help mitigate the impacts of climate change but also inspire further collective action across industries worldwide.

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