Opportunities in methane emissions reduction

Mexico

Marco Cota, CEO of Talanza Energy, talks to The Energy Year about methane emission reduction opportunities and how the Group provides solutions for clients to minimise their environmental impact. Talanza is an integrated services company specialising in methane emissions abatement.

Learn more about Talanza Energy here.

What opportunities do efforts to reduce methane gas emissions represent?
Methane emissions are a major contributor to global warming. Methane is odourless and colourless, making leak detection particularly challenging. Moreover, awareness of methane and its environmental impact remains limited, meaning its reduction has not been a priority for companies.
If we were to measure, in a 20-year time span, the heating that a tonne of methane generates versus that generated by a tonne of CO2, the heating from methane would be 84 times greater.
Additionally, methane is a short-lived gas: its atmospheric lifespan is around 12 years, whereas CO2 can persist for centuries. This means that cutting methane emissions delivers benefits in the short term. If we make cuts now, the environmental impact will be significant in just 20 years.
Reducing methane emissions is therefore critical to achieving net-zero targets by 2050 and supporting the Paris Agreement’s targeted 1.5-2 degrees Celsius cap on warming.
Methane is generated in common economic activities, with the food industry (livestock and agriculture) being the top emitter globally. Emissions from this sector are difficult to mitigate, as they are mainly produced by open-air activities, such as rice fields.
The second-largest emitter of methane is the oil and gas sector. However, methane emissions from hydrocarbons are the easiest to mitigate because all the gas is contained within infrastructure – tanks, pipelines and other facilities. This enables companies like ours to offer viable solutions that enhance safety, sustainability, and both reputational and economic value for industry players.
This presents a significant opportunity for us, given the viable solutions we can offer to industry players seeking to enhance safety standards, improve sustainability and increase reputational and economic values.

Tell us about Talanza Energy’s role in offering integrated methane mitigation services.
Talanza Energy is a pioneering company dedicated to helping the industry detect and reduce methane emissions. We initially established a joint venture with a Canada-based company to inspect emissions using the latest technology. However, in 2024, we acquired full ownership of the partnership, making Talanza Energy the sole provider of these services. Additionally, we integrated all methane inspection operations previously conducted by the joint venture under the Talanza Energy brand.
Since then, we have redefined our value proposition and corporate mission, transitioning into a company fully committed to methane emissions detection and mitigation.
Today, we offer comprehensive services, including inspection, detection, quantification and mitigation planning. Our approach begins with an initial inspection, providing new clients with a trial assessment of their installations. Through this process, we demonstrate how our technology and services work, helping them identify potential leakages, pinpoint their locations, and measure their severity.
For accurate and efficient methane leak detection and quantification, we utilise a suite of cutting-edge technologies. Optical Gas Imaging (OGI), with its infrared detection and cooled chamber, allows us to precisely visualise leaks. The High-Flow Sampler provides critical, precise gas concentration and flow measurements through high-volume capture, enabling accurate emissions quantification.
Complementing these, our Remote Methane Leakage Detection (RMLD) laser technology excels at verifying repairs and detecting small leaks, such as those from gas meters, ensuring optimal results. Leveraging this comprehensive toolkit, we facilitate rapid leak identification, enabling clients to promptly address issues and optimise their operational efficiency and cost-effectiveness. We also offer comprehensive, periodic monitoring programmes to ensure ongoing leak prevention and compliance.
Initially, our contracts covered a single inspection service, but we now offer up to four inspections per year for some clients. Under Mexico’s LDAR (leak detection and repair) programme, all hydrocarbons-related activities must undergo quarterly inspections.
Methane leaks are unpredictable, as their occurrence and magnitude depend on factors such as temperature and atmospheric conditions. The only way to improve the assessment and management of leak behaviour is through frequent inspections. This is why our end-to-end services – spanning inspection, detection, quantification, monitoring and mitigation planning – are crucial for companies looking to effectively address methane emissions.

What modus operandi do you employ when helping a client detect their emissions?
Our certified inspectors conduct on-site assessments, using OGI technology for real-time facility scanning and methane leak detection. Data is directly transmitted to our secure cloud platform. We provide an initial leak quantification estimate via QOGI, based on OGI video analysis. Selected leaks and vents undergo High Flow Sampler quantification to enhance accuracy and support OGMP 2.0 gold standard certification.
Following quality control and detailed quantification, a comprehensive report, accessible through a secure web portal, is generated within 24-48 hours. This report includes progress toward emissions targets, root cause analysis, economic impact assessments, and tailored reduction recommendations.
Our experts apply advanced analytics to comprehensive on-site data, fulfilling OGMP 2.0 and local regulatory reporting requirements. We also develop customised, enterprise-wide methane emissions reports, enabling clients to optimise supply chains, establish SMART leak control plans, and implement predictive maintenance. These insights support the formulation of effective methane emissions mitigation strategies

What bottom-up and top-down technologies are you using to detect methane emissions?
We specialise in targeted technologies, primarily OGI and High-Flow Samplers, which are the industry’s leading tools for leak detection and quantification, respectively. We also utilise RMLDs for repair verification and small equipment inspections, such as gas meters. Our approach prioritises both accuracy and cost-effectiveness by tailoring technology deployment to each project’s specific requirements. This on-site, inspector-led methodology provides a robust, bottom-up approach to methane emissions management
Top-down monitoring encompasses site-level detection using fixed-continuous systems or aerial detection via drones, helicopters, aircraft, and satellites. However, drone deployment faces limitations due to battery life, regulatory constraints, and safety risks in sensitive areas like refineries and gas processing plants, where even a spark poses a significant hazard. Therefore, we are prioritising rapid aircraft-based monitoring and establishing strategic partnerships to advance this large-scale approach.
Finally, UNEP’s Methane Alert and Response System (MARS), a pioneering global satellite detection and notification system, provides critical data on major methane emissions. Notifying governments and OGMP 2.0 members of significant space-detected emissions, MARS identified over 1,200 events in 2024, with only 1% addressed. Notably, Mexico accounted for 27 of these alerts. Talanza Energy is committed to supporting the Mexican government and industry in effectively responding to these incidents

Tell us about your strategy for responding to different MARS alerts in Mexico.
Our strategic objective is to create a network of operational response centres in Mexico to address MARS alerts. Through active alliances with OGMP 2.0 companies and the Mexican government, we will provide integrated solutions: immediate top-down aerial detection complemented by bottom-up inspections to ensure effective repairs.
Recognising the current response capability gap, we are uniquely positioned to support the government. To facilitate rapid deployment, centres will be strategically located in key hydrocarbon basins – Cuencas del Sureste, Burgos, and Poza Rica – and close to oil and gas infrastructure. Our strategic alliance with PYPSA is pivotal for achieving this objective in the short term.

What key clients have you recently worked with in Mexico and beyond?
We have formed a strategic commercial alliance with PYPSA, a company with extensive reach across the Americas. This partnership combines our methane expertise with PYPSA’s engineering capabilities, granting us access to projects throughout Latin America. In 2024, we secured a significant offshore contract in Mexico, a three-year agreement to implement a quarterly LDAR programme for three production platforms.
Our established partnership with Tecpetrol, operating the largest private non-associated gas field in the Burgos basin, continues to thrive. We are expanding our midstream presence in Mexico, collaborating with industry leaders such as Engie, TC Energía, Sempra Infrastructure, and Esentia Energy Systems, and are also engaged in LNG plant projects.
We are actively bidding on contracts to service multiple combined-cycle power plants in Mexico, recognising the sector’s significant potential, which accounts for over 50% of the nation’s electricity generation. Our Latin American expansion includes ongoing work with Parex Resources in Colombia, where we have established an office, and planned expansion into Trinidad and Tobago, Peru, Chile, and Argentina.

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