MiQ Certification with Continuous Monitoring
Summary
MiQ Certification gives operators a credible way to prove methane performance and differentiate their gas in a market that increasingly values low-emissions supply. The framework evaluates methane intensity, company practices, and monitoring technology, with third-party audits used to verify results. Continuous monitoring plays a central role by helping operators detect intermittent emissions, support measurement-based inventories, and build audit-ready data records. As certified gas markets grow, operators that combine continuous monitoring with strong methane management practices will be better positioned for compliance, certification, and market access.
What Is MiQ Certification?
MiQ Certification was developed by the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) and SYSTEMIQ to create a market mechanism to reward low-methane gas production. It’s a certification framework to evaluate an operator’s methane intensity and their company practices to give gas a grade using a transparent scoring system ranging from A through F. Each MMBtu of gas gets a certificate representing its methane performance, which are tracked in the MiQ digital registry
MiQ certification provides multiple benefits for operators:
Gives premium or preferential access to buyers seeking low-emissions gas
Aligns with EU methane regulation and ESG expectations
Credible third-party proof of methane performance.
MiQ certification is increasing. Currently, MiQ is reporting that they have:
28 billion MMBtu of gas certified on the MiQ Registry
30 BCF/d of gas production certified
129 audits on the MiQ registry
The key takeaway is MiQ certification is the market recognition for low-methane intensity gas.
Why MiQ Certification Matters
Think about this as market differentiation, rather than solely compliance. MiQ is fundamentally creating a way to differentiate gas in the market based on methane performance, which is something that didn’t exist before. Under this program, gas becomes graded, not commoditized. We’re seeing that buyers, especially LNG and European buyers, are starting to care and we’re seeing signals of price premiums or preferred access. These buyers need credible, third-party signals to know what the methane footprint of a molecule of gas actually is and this is done through the independent certification and beyond self-reported ESG claims to create a common, standardized signal across operators. At Qube Technologies, we’re seeing transparency expanding beyond buyers as it becomes increasingly relevant for investors, regulators, and the public. Investors look at methane risk and performance, and regulators are moving toward measurement-based requirements. Certification helps operators stay ahead of both. The real goal here is to drive operational change. The most important point is that MiQ isn’t just labeling performance, it’s designed to improve it. Operators are incentivized to lower their methane intensity, move up that grading scale, and encourages scaling best practices across assets.
This is where continuous monitoring becomes critical, because you can’t differentiate, certify, or improve performance without credible, ongoing measurement.
Three Pillars of MiQ Certification
Methane Intensity
All material must be reported at Level 4. Level 4 reporting is based on “bottom-up” estimates that use source-level measurements and sampling to develop specific emission and activity factors.
Company Practices
OGMP 2.0 Level 5 takes all of the operator specific emission factors & activity factors required for a Level 4 report and layers on top independent site-level measurements using advanced methane measurement technologies. Continuous monitoring measurements can contribute to site-level measurements that support this reporting level.
Monitoring Technology Development
Monitoring Technology Development (MTD) ensures that emissions are truly measured and can include multiple technologies in a layered approach.
All three elements are verified through independent, third-party audits before certification is granted and all elements are graded on a scoring rubric to obtain a grading between A through F grade gas. Currently, MiQ notes that 79% of their gas certificates are A Grade, less than 0.05% methane intensity. Qube Technologies qualifies as an MTD. Operators can achieve a higher score with more frequent LDAR scans or the use of continuous monitoring on their assets. Qube is an approved MiQ technology provider for this third pillar.
Continuous Monitoring for MiQ Certification
MiQ explicitly evaluates how operators are monitoring methane, not just if they have LDAR programs but whether they have ongoing visibility into emissions.
Supports Continuous Methane Monitoring and Detection
Monitoring Technology Development is a core MiQ pillar and continuous monitoring strengthens that score, moving beyond periodic, snapshot-based approaches.
Demonstrates Methane Management Performance
A continuous monitoring system can really unlock defensible, measurement-based data, not just estimates. It supports methane intensity (MI) calculations, captures intermittent and short-duration events, and reduces reliance on emission factors.
Audit-Ready Data
For certification, it’s not enough to say emissions are low – operators need to provide it with auditable data. Continuous monitoring can provide time-stamped detection records, documented response and repair actions, and gives operators a stronger position during third-party audits.
Strengthens Operational Response
Part of the benefit of these certification programs is the strengthened operational response to emissions, not just the reporting of emissions. Improving how operators manage their emissions day to day to be able to respond faster to events, reduce their emissions, and have a continuous improvement loop is a benefit of these kind of programs. We’re seeing alignment of operational efficiency and emissions reduction with operators using layered technology approaches for their certification, including continuous monitoring.
Operational Methane Workflow
Methane management is shifting from a series of disconnected activities into a continuous, closed-loop operational workflow. With continuous monitoring in place, operators can detect events sooner, respond faster, build stronger methane data records, and support certification with measurement-backed evidence.
Monitor
Monitor methane emissions across production assets. Continuous monitoring gives operators real-time visibility into what’s happening in the field, across sites and over time.
Detect
Detect and address emission events quickly. That visibility enables earlier detection, faster action, and a more effective response, especially when events are large, intermittent, or operationally significant.
Collect
Collect measurement data that supports methane intensity calculations. As events are detected and addressed, measurement data can be used to inform methane intensity calculations, emissions inventories, and performance tracking. This helps operators move beyond generalized estimates and toward a more representative view of field emissions.
Develop
Develop auditable methane data records. Over time, monitoring, response activity, and measurement data come together to create a structured, traceable record of methane performance. That record is critical for verification and supports a more credible certification process.
Support
Support verification and certification processes. With a stronger data foundation, operators are better positioned to support MiQ verification and certification. Just as important, the results feed back into operations, helping teams identify opportunities to improve performance and reduce emissions over time.
Certification is not a one-time achievement. It is sustained through a continuous, measurement-driven cycle of monitoring, action, measurement, and improvement.
MiQ Certification Is Scaling Across the Value Chain
Adoption of MiQ certification is building from predominantly US basins to international markets including offshore and midstream operators. Recently, Tourmaline Oil Corp., Canada’s largest natural gas producer, achieved a Grade ‘A’ rating for methane performance under MiQ.
Having MiQ certification is driving a shift to hybrid monitoring technologies. It’s no longer a single technology platform. We’re seeing a combination of technologies that operators can choose depending on what works best for their assets. These technologies are given different point scores for the MiQ rubric. These can include:
Continuous monitoring
Fixed sensors for real-time detection
Rapid identification of large emission events
Periodic surveys
OGI inspections
LDAR programs
Aerial surveys
Drone and aircraft-based measurements
Satellite data for basin-wide coverage
Engineering and inventory methods
Emission factors
Equipment-level calculations
Key Takeaways
The industry is shifting from emission factors to a measurement-based approach. As certified gas markets emerge, buyers want traceable, low-methane-intensity gas backed by auditable performance data. Operators that combine continuous monitoring, measurement-based inventories, and third-party certification are better positioned to meet or exceed current and upcoming regulations while expanding access to differentiated gas markets. Just as importantly, they can support those claims with the performance data needed for credible audit trails.
Want to learn how Qube Technologies can help you achieve MiQ certification?