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LONDONJune 3, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — MiQ, the global leader in methane emissions certification, announced today that it has certified Shell Offshore Inc.’s (“Shell”) entire production portfolio in the U.S. Gulf of America (GOA), making Shell the first operator in the region to receive MiQ certification. All ten of Shell’s production assets have achieved MiQ’s highest methane performance grade – Grade A.
To obtain this certification, Shell’s production assets in the GOA successfully completed a third-party audit in accordance with MiQ’s methane emissions standard. The Grade A was achieved through demonstrated low methane intensity, combined with robust corporate practices and a methane monitoring program designed to detect and reduce emissions.
MiQ is a non-profit organization that aims to provide independent, credible methane emissions data for the oil and gas industry. Its mission is to accelerate global methane reduction, and the results of any certification have no shareholder or commercial interests. All operators working with MiQ must engage auditors to conduct rigorous, detailed, on-site annual assessments of facility-level natural gas production based on the MiQ standard.
This certification also marks MiQ’s first certification covering emissions from Shell’s offshore crude oil production, demonstrating how independent methane certification can extend beyond natural gas. As the first international energy company to obtain independent MiQ certification for offshore crude oil production, Shell is developing practical experience related to monitoring, reporting, and verification.
Shell is a leading operator in the region, with its production having one of the lowest greenhouse gas intensities among global oil production. Between 2016 and 2025, Shell achieved a 40% reduction in methane emissions in the GOA while simultaneously increasing production by 40% 1. Globally, Shell is a founding signatory of the Oil and Gas Methane Partnership (OGMP) 2.0 and achieved the Gold Standard for its global operations in the most recent reporting year of 2024.
MiQ now certifies more than 30% of U.S. natural gas production and over 7% of global natural gas supply. Its certification framework is used in the United States, Canada, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Japan, and the European Union, and MiQ works with governments, regulators, and operators to enhance methane transparency in key production and import markets.
Georges Tijbosch, CEO of MiQ, said: “Shell’s certification in the U.S. Gulf of America is another milestone for methane emissions transparency, demonstrating how operators can prepare for a future where reliable emissions data is critical for compliance regulation and market access. MiQ’s certification system is a market-proven solution that facilitates rapid methane reduction in oil and gas by providing credible emissions data.”
Mahamat Abdelsalam, Shell’s Vice President of Safety and Environment for the U.S. Gulf of America, said: “This Grade A certification is a testament to our operational excellence and rigorous execution offshore.” “We continue to design and operate our assets to competitively produce more and lower carbon-intensive barrels.”
- Shell’s U.S. Gulf of America production has one of the lowest greenhouse gas intensities globally, based on comparisons among other IOGP oil and gas production members.
About MiQ
MiQ is the non-profit global leader in methane emissions certification and data. Our mission is to accelerate the reduction of methane emissions by providing a credible and transparent certification system, driving regulatory compliance, inspiring continuous improvement, and ensuring accountability across the oil and gas industry throughout the entire supply chain.