The key to post-Iran conflict energy security lies in natural gas tech

With an end to the Iran conflict looking more likely each day, policymakers must reflect on the intense pressure that global energy systems have faced since hostilities began in February 2026. To protect business and households alike from future shocks, leaders are looking for ways to shore up energy security.

Standard policy options include rapidly scaling up renewable energy or doubling down on fossil fuel extraction, but both face serious downsides. Technology offers an alternative solution. By deploying tech to stop wasting existing natural gas, companies can better support energy security while also delivering climate benefits.

Since the US and Israel began strikes on Iran in February 2026, Iran has retaliated with attacks on oil and gas infrastructure throughout the Gulf region. On top of this, the Strait of Hormuz – through which nearly 20% of global oil and gas exports travel – has been repeatedly closed, blockaded and threatened. This has driven up global energy costs, with the price of Brent crude peaking at around $120 per barrel.

In turn, this has put pressure on businesses, with overhead costs surging and consumers' disposable income shrinking.

Policymakers are looking for a solution, and two dominant options have emerged: massive investment in renewables or scaling up fossil fuel extraction. However, neither is a perfect fix. It could take years to plan and build the infrastructure necessary to scale renewables like solar and wind power to a sufficient level. On the other hand, expanding fossil fuel production might provide short-term relief, but it will exacerbate greenhouse gas emissions and countries risk falling behind on global decarbonisation targets.

However, there is another, often underutilised, technological lever. Energy companies should be preventing the waste of natural gas that is already produced.

Oil and gas companies often vent and flare to disperse excess natural gas. Venting is the release of unburnt natural gas directly into the atmosphere, while flaring is the controlled burning of excess gas. Venting and flaring are conducted partly due to safety concerns such as the buildup of pressure that can lead to explosions but also the limited economic benefit of transporting small volumes of gas. Large volumes of natural gas are released into the atmosphere through leaky infrastructure, which is known as “fugitive” emissions.

Using technology to reduce venting, flaring and fugitive emissions would improve energy security by helping to counter the impact of the Iran conflict on gas supplies. It would also enable existing natural gas projects to improve their carbon profiles. More than 75% of methane emissions from oil and gas operations could be mitigated using various available technologies, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA). These technologies include leak detection and repair (LDAR), methane capture and infrastructure upgrades.

LDAR programmes use a range of tools to locate methane or natural gas leaks and quantify these fugitive emissions. Technologies including optical gas-imaging cameras, airborne drones or aircraft with light detection and ranging sensors, handheld devices and satellites provide energy companies with the insights they need to locate and stop leaks.

Existing technologies can also be used to capture excess methane and natural gas emissions. Vapor capture units (VCUs) intercept and compress natural gas that would otherwise be released into the atmosphere. The freshly scrubbed and compressed natural gas can be reintroduced to the pipeline and used as fuel, improving operational efficiency and aiding decarbonisation strategies.

While LDAR and VCUs can be used to reduce fugitive emissions, infrastructure upgrades can increase pipelines' capacity for transporting natural gas, reducing the need for venting or flaring. Upgrading old pipelines, replacing pneumatic devices with low-emitting alternatives and expanding pipeline networks all mitigate routine venting by improving the integrity and capacity of gas supply systems.

Combined, these technologies provide three-pronged benefits. Firstly, they prevent oil and gas companies from unnecessarily losing revenue through wasted product. Secondly, they help shore up energy security in the face of mounting geopolitical turbulence. Finally, they are useful for companies working towards decarbonisation targets.

Infrastructure updates will directly benefit energy companies, but upfront costs remain a hurdle. Policy support is therefore critical to incentivise technical updates.

Firstly, policymakers can introduce regulations to mandate LDAR programmes, limit venting and flaring, and require gas capture (when feasible) to push companies to make changes. Many US states including Colorado, Alaska and New Mexico impose harsh financial penalties for violating their bans on routine venting and flaring, except under certain conditions.

Policymakers can also make their investments in VCUs, LDAR and pipeline expansion more viable by using financial tools such as tax credits or subsidies. Carbon or methane fees can support investment by internalising the cost of emissions, providing companies with stronger financial motivation to reduce leaks.

Public-private partnerships are also vital to support infrastructure modernisation. These financial collaborations help to spread costs and reduce bottlenecks, meaning pipelines, storage and processing facilities can be upgraded efficiently with less fear of disruptions.

"The key to post-Iran conflict energy security lies in natural gas tech" was originally created and published by Energy Monitor, a GlobalData owned brand.

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