Objective Oil and gas storage and transportation companies play a crucial role in methane emission reduction by linking the upstream and downstream segments of the industry. However, their methane emission management systems remain inadequate. Therefore, studying the methane emission management system framework for oil and gas storage and transportation companies will enhance the precision of their emission control efforts, facilitate the implementation of the Methane Emissions Control Action Plan, and support the achievement of “dual carbon” goals.

Methods The trends in methane control within the oil and gas industries of the EU, the United States, and China were reviewed, the development requirements of the EU and the United States regarding policy orientation, emission standards, corporate responsibility, emission reduction technology were examined, and the necessity of methane emission management for oil and gas storage and transportation companies was analyzed. Additionally, a document report investigation was conducted on eight prominent oil and gas companies in North America and Europe. Their methane emission management experience was compared across four aspects: top-level design, quantitative statistics, inspection and maintenance, and information disclosure. Key insights into their system design and management rules were also summarized.

Results Under the mandatory requirements of laws and regulations and the guidance of oil and gas industry organizations, international oil and gas companies have gradually established and enhanced methane emission management systems, setting clear emission reduction targets, organizational structures, and assessment incentive mechanisms. Future efforts will focus on quantifying emission monitoring. In contrast, the methane emission management system for oil and gas storage and transportation companies in China remains underdeveloped, lacking effective control measures, robust cross-departmental cooperation, and sufficient incentives for emission reduction.

Conclusion Oil and gas storage and transportation companies in China should adopt best practices from leading international methane emission management systems. They should focus on top-level design, using emission control targets as guidance, and clearly define responsibilities across quantitative statistics, planning, emission reduction, evaluation, review, and information disclosure processes. Enhancing the assessment and reward mechanisms is essential for building a robust methane emission management framework. Additionally, the companies should develop emission quantification methods, standardize maintenance workflows, clarify environmental information disclosure requirements, consider the cost-benefit of methane emission reduction, and improve carbon asset management capabilities to achieve coordinated development of methane management with production, safety, and cost management.