EQT Becomes Nation’s Largest Producer of Certified Natural Gas

EQT Corp. announced Jan. 14 that it has certified a majority of its natural gas production under both the EO_¹⁰⁰ Standard for Responsible Energy Development, which focuses on ESG performance and MiQ methane standard. EQT's certified natural gas production now comprises 4.5% of all natural gas produced in the U.S., making EQT not only the nation's largest natural gas producer, but also the nation's largest producer of certified natural gas.

EQT received both certifications in November, and the first block of the company's certified natural gas is now available for trading on MiQ's Digital Registry. According to the company, the certifications provide a transparent, verified method for tracking EQT's ESG commitments, which include achieving net zero Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and reducing EQT's methane emissions intensity by 65% by 2025.

"At EQT, we are committed to responsibly developing our world-class asset base," Toby Z. Rice, EQT President and CEO, said in a press release. "These independent, objective third-party certifications validate that our natural gas is produced with high environmental, social and governance standards and help position U.S. natural gas to lead the largest green initiative in the world, which is replacing foreign coal."

He continued, "These results not only enable us to unlock growing domestic and international markets that are valuing a differentiated commodity, they also serve as an important validation of the environmental attributes of Appalachian natural gas."

Responsible Energy Solutions, an approved independent assessment body for both the EO_¹⁰⁰ and MiQ standards, assessed EQT's performance against the EO^₁₀₀ and MiQ standards at roughly 200 well pads located in Greene and Washington Counties, Pennsylvania, which collectively produce approximately 4.0 Bcf/day.

Equitable Origin certifies energy companies on ESG indicators in accordance with its EO_¹⁰⁰ Standard for Responsible Energy Development, a set of rigorous ESG performance standards for energy development projects. Equitable Origin has certified EQT's produced natural gas against the five principles of the EO_¹⁰ Standard, including corporate governance and ethics, social impacts, human rights and community engagement, occupational health & safety and fair labor standards, and environmental impacts, biodiversity and climate change.

The certification score achieved by EQT represents the highest initial certification score ascribed by Equitable Origin to any upstream producer domestically or abroad to date, reflecting EQT's commitment to being the operator of choice for all of its stakeholders.

The certification standards developed by MiQ and Equitable Origin aim to bring transparency to an opaque market, drive demand for certified natural gas and help operators differentiate themselves through methane-emissions performance and overall responsible energy production. Independently audited certification gives operators, buyers—and eventually regulators—an opportunity to support responsible energy development and methane reduction globally.