Three of the Appalachian Basin’s leading upstream and midstream operators on Wednesday announced a new coalition aimed at better monitoring and reducing methane emissions throughout the Marcellus and Utica shales. 

Chesapeake Energy Corp., EQT Corp. and Equitrans Midstream Corp. launched the Appalachian Methane Initiative (AMI). The coalition said it would work to identify and fix fugitive methane emissions in the basin through coordinated satellite and aerial surveys that take into account advanced methane monitoring and reporting frameworks.

“As an industry, we have an important role to play in both meeting global energy needs and reducing climate change risks,” said Chesapeake CEO Nick Dell’Osso. “The AMI coalition offers an opportunity to better measure and...