Partnerships
PARTNERSHIPS, RESEARCH & COLLABORATION
Partnerships are how we lead and learn from conservation around the future of energy. Williams collaborates with peer companies, technology enablers and trade associations to uncover and innovate best practices in GHG emissions reduction. Our government and regulatory affairs team oversees Williams’ external partnerships and participation.
The partnerships described below enable us to execute and influence decarbonization. Additional partnerships focusing on NEV technologies and other topics are described in our Sustainability Report.
AMERICAN PETROLEUM INSTITUTE ENVIRONMENTAL PARTNERSHIP
This Partnership provides a forum for participants to share information and analyze best practices and technological breakthroughs to develop natural gas and oil resources in an environmentally responsible manner. Williams’ participation focuses on methane emissions reduction strategies.
COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY’S METHANE EMISSIONS TECHNOLOGY EVALUATION CENTER (METEC)
METEC develops and tests new, innovative technology to measure methane emissions. METEC also connects researchers with industry partners to help develop energy technology and prepare students for energy and technology careers. Williams helped establish METEC in 2017, providing equipment donations and technical guidance, and continues to serve as a company member on the METEC Industry Advisory Board.
DIFFERENTIATED GAS COORDINATING COUNCIL (DGCC)
DGCC is a coalition of stakeholders across the natural gas supply chain dedicated to facilitating a pathway for policymakers, regulators, utilities and gas consumers to use differentiated gas, such as NextGen Gas. The DGCC believes that differentiated gas can be an important tool for reducing methane emissions and meeting climate goals in the oil and gas sector.
ENERGY EMISSIONS MODELING AND DATA LAB (EEMDL)
EEMDL is an initiative launched by the University of Texas at Austin and Colorado State University with the mission to provide reliable, transparent, science-based and measurement-based GHG assessments of global oil and gas supply chains. The initiative aims to achieve this through three key approaches: developing community models and tools for GHG emissions assessments; making publicly available timely, high-resolution emissions datasets; and creating educational and training materials to enable widespread use of EEMDL’s models and data. Williams became a founding sponsor of the EEMDL in 2022.
ENERGY INFRASTRUCTURE COUNCIL (EIC)
The EIC is a trade association dedicated to advancing the interest of companies that develop and operate energy, both using traditional and renewable fuels. Williams’ Chief Financial Officer serves as co-chair of the ESG Working Group. Williams co-chaired an initiative with the EIC to launch a midstream energy sector reporting template for presenting sustainability metrics in a transparent and comparable way.
GAS MACHINERY RESEARCH COUNCIL
GMRC is an industry initiative to support the continual improvement of technological advancements in natural gas through collaborative research initiatives. Williams participates in the GMRC project supervisory committee, which leads research projects to reduce GHG emissions, improve compression efficiency and reduce lube oil consumption.
INTERSTATE NATURAL GAS ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA (INGAA)
Membership in INGAA is a vital part of Williams’ industry engagement on multiple issues salient to natural gas transmission and storage operations, including emissions reductions. In 2023, Williams supported development of INGAA second Climate Report, which describes INGAA’s commitment to environmental stewardship, responsibility and transparency, as well as highlighting members’ ongoing efforts to reduce emissions.
NATIONAL PETROLEUM COUNCIL (NPC)
Williams partners with the NPC to facilitate studies on hydrogen technology and GHG emissions reduction, with the goal of producing policy recommendations for government and industry recommendations to drive GHG emissions reductions across the natural gas value chain. This initiative supports U.S. commitments to the Paris Agreement and the Global Methane Pledge.
OGMP 2.0 commits member companies to report methane emissions in accordance with what are widely recognized as the highest established standards, as well as to set industry-leading methane reduction targets. It is the only comprehensive, measurement-based international reporting framework for the sector. Participation supports Williams’ full-value chain NextGen Gas program to provide path-specific methane intensity certifications to utilities, LNG export facilities and other cleaner energy users.
ONE Future is a group of energy companies voluntarily working to reduce methane emissions by supporting policy mechanisms, developing technical solutions and setting targets to better manage emissions associated with production, processing, transmission and distribution.
PARTNERSHIP TO ADDRESS GLOBAL EMISSIONS (PAGE)
PAGE is a nonpartisan coalition of like-minded organizations that advocates for policies, such as permitting reform, that will enable the development of infrastructure needed to increase production and export of U.S. LNG to replace foreign coal and lower GHG emissions. PAGE members include energy companies, NGOs, trade unions and climate advocates.
PIPELINE RESEARCH COUNCIL INTERNATIONAL (PRCI)
PRCI supports technology development to reduce GHG emissions in all aspects of our industry — from combustion emissions to fugitives. Williams drives industry research through our membership in the PRCI compressor and pump station technical committee, and Williams’ Vice President, Environmental and Permitting serves as the chair of PRCI. PRCI’s Emerging Fuels Institute (EFI), established in 2021, continues to spearhead research on next-generation energy transportation and storage for sources such as hydrogen and renewable natural gas. EFI currently has 35 active projects aimed at closing the gap to safely develop the hydrogen economy and infrastructure. Williams is actively supporting all 35 projects through materials testing, project leadership, and in-kind research. Williams was among the founding members of EFI’s CO2 transport team, with several projects in development, and our Director of Engineering — Plants and Facilities is currently its chair.
TEXAS METHANE AND FLARING COALITION
This Coalition is focused on identifying and promoting best practices for reducing flaring and methane emissions in Texas. Williams is a Coalition member, along with all of Texas’ oil and gas trade associations and over 40 oil and natural gas companies.