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GHG EMISSION REDUCTION

Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and decarbonisation

Talk to one of our experts for innovative industrial emissions reduction and decarbonisation solutions that address your challenges.

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Emissions

OVERVIEW

What are greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions?

Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions refer to gases released into the atmosphere that trap heat and contribute to global warming.

The main variations include carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), and fluorinated gases. These emissions originate from general industrial activities, oil and gas operations, transportation, energy production, and agriculture.

Reducing GHG emissions is now a critical priority for industries due to increasing regulatory pressures, corporate sustainability commitments, and the global push for net-zero targets. Many sectors are adopting industrial GHG emissions reduction strategies, including decarbonisation, low-carbon technologies, carbon capture solutions, and cleaner energy sources to mitigate their environmental impact and align with stricter emissions standards.

OUR EXPERIENCE

A Global Track Record for Reducing GHG Emissions

Since John Crane pioneered the first mechanical seal, our technologies have consistently prevented GHG emissions from entering the atmosphere under some of the world’s toughest operating conditions.

A century of emission reduction

With more than 100 years of specialised expertise, we excel at preventing and fixing leaks using proven sealing technologies. Our advanced methane sealing technologies have prevented millions of tonnes of GHG and methane from being released into the atmosphere, and we’re continuing this legacy in the new energy era.

Broad portfolio range

Our portfolio includes technologies, services and solutions proven to reduce methane emissions and enhance energy efficiency. This robust offering includes gas and wet seals, systems, filtration, couplings, retrofit services and asset management solutions focused on asset integrity and reliability.

Hundreds of facilities

With more than 200 facilities worldwide, we’re fully equipped to support our customers’ emission reduction needs. We respond quickly to issues and collaborate closely to ensure the success of our emissions-reducing retrofits.
IN MORE DETAIL

A closer look at our approach and technologies

Emissions From Plant

The urgent need to curb methane emissions

The energy sector’s decarbonisation progress will hinge upon its ability to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Among these gases, perhaps none poses a more urgent challenge than methane. Methane emissions are approximately 28-34 times more potent over 20 years than CO2.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), methane is estimated to have contributed 20% of the global temperature increase since the Industrial Revolution. Another environmental authority, the International Energy Agency (IEA), estimates that the oil and gas sector produces 40% of the world’s methane emissions each year.

Fugitive methane emissions, or unintentional emissions caused by leaks or defective seals, account for as much as 20% of all global methane emissions, or 5% of global GHG emissions. Because fugitive emissions are especially common in carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS) and natural gas operations, methane abatement is also critical to accelerating decarbonisation and LNG as a bridge fuel.

Beyond these environmental and energy transition implications, methane emissions also impact a business’s bottom line. According to the EPA, methane leaks account for around 3% to 4% of total gas production, equating to annual potential revenue losses of up to $30 billion for the oil and gas sector.

The dual climate and business impact of methane emissions has accelerated abatement technologies, which have become increasingly cost-effective with time. As we enter the next phase of the energy transition, methane emission reduction has become a rapid, economically viable strategy for decarbonising the oil and gas industry.

Chimney Emissions

Our approach to GHG emissions reduction

John Crane has been a leader in methane emission reduction solutions for decades.

Our advanced mechanical sealing technologies have prevented millions of tonnes of GHG and methane from being released into the atmosphere, and we’re continuing this legacy in the new energy era.

The most effective GHG industrial emissions reduction solutions involve identifying the sources to provide affordable strategies that reduce or eliminate emissions while maximising efficiency. We are committed to helping the oil and gas sector significantly reduce its emissions, including those from methane, sulphur oxides and nitrogen oxides, by leveraging this proven approach.

To support fugitive methane emissions control, John Crane offers a range of emission management solutions, including products such as dry gas seal and wet-to-dry gas retrofit solutions. We pair these solutions with the same pioneering spirit and innovation that led to our invention of the first mechanical seal more than a century ago.

Read our white paper on curbing methane emissions
Two chimneys with smoke coming out of them

Emissions detection and quantification technologies

While many methane abatement solutions exist, few address fugitive emissions, which remain a critical barrier to the oil and gas industry’s net zero progress.

John Crane’s solutions enable process operators to detect, quantify and reduce methane and other GHG emissions, including often-undetected fugitive emissions.

By doing so, we help energy companies meet their GHG reduction targets and satisfy the latest environmental standards without sacrificing reliability or cost.

REPAIR AND MITIGATION

Repair and mitigation strategies

A man in blue shirt and gloves working on a machine

Proven Wet to Dry Gas Seal Retrofits

Over the last 10 years, John Crane’s wet-to-dry upgrades have helped customers reduce approximately 278,000 tonnes of CO2 equivalent emissions per year.

By switching to our wet-to-gas seals, customers around the globe are minimising methane emissions and leaks while boosting the reliability of their compressors. These retrofit solutions improve a plant's efficiency and reduce its environmental footprint while significantly cutting emissions.

At John Crane, we thrive on service excellence. We help our customers through every step of the retrofit process, from conceptual studies to implementation, ensuring their transition to dry gas seals maximises efficiency and reliability.

We also specialise in optimising pump and compressor systems, making us the trusted choice for boosting the performance and sustainability of this mission-critical equipment.

Two people wearing hard hats talking to each other

Preventing and eliminating methane emissions with seal gas recovery

Centrifugal compressors equipped with tandem dry gas mechanical seals can utilise Seal Gas Recovery (SGR) to reduce methane emissions when there is access to high-pressure motive fluid.

SGR becomes even more cost-effective when processing valuable gas. John Crane can design a customised SGR arrangement for setups involving multiple compressor trains.

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Asset Management Overview

Mitigation plans for overall emission reduction

Our asset condition management team excels at increasing asset efficiency, providing the systems and data needed to optimise maintenance, enhance safety and curb GHG emissions.

We work closely with our customers to develop mitigation plans that reduce overall emissions across a factory’s asset base while maintaining peak reliability and safety.

More about asset condition management
Powering Sustainability

Decreasing emissions by 98% in an Oman production plant

A prominent exploration and production firm in Oman partnered with John Crane to reduce emissions and enhance operational efficiency.

By replacing conventional oil seals with advanced Type 28 dry gas seals, we helped our customer decrease its CO2 emissions by 98% and lower gas consumption by approximately 2% in the gas turbine.

Beyond GHG emission reduction, our wet-to-dry gas retrofit enhanced reliability, improved mean time between failures (MTBF) and reduced expenses for both maintenance and energy. Our customer also benefited from educational sessions with its local operators, which equipped them to maximise the value of their dry gas seal technology.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Greenhouse gas emissions and decarbonisation - common questions

Why is reducing greenhouse gas emissions important?

Reducing greenhouse gas emissions is essential to limiting climate change while meeting regulatory requirements and corporate sustainability goals. For energy and industrial operators, emissions reduction also improves efficiency, protects asset integrity and lowers product losses. This supports reliable long-term operations during the energy transition.

What is the difference between emissions reduction and decarbonisation?

Emissions reduction focuses on lowering greenhouse gas output from existing operations, reducing methane leaks. Decarbonisation is broader, involving long-term strategies to reduce or eliminate carbon intensity through technology upgrades, cleaner energy sources and system-wide changes across the value chain.

What causes methane emissions in oil and gas operations?

Methane emissions in oil and gas operations are often caused by fugitive leaks from compressors, valves and seals, as well as venting and inefficient equipment. Ageing assets and inadequate sealing technologies can further increase emissions, making targeted mitigation and proven sealing solutions essential.

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