Methane is a very potent green house gas. It is converted to carbon dioxide to ease its overall effect on global warming. This process is known as :

Methane (CH4) is a potent greenhouse gas with a global warming potential (GWP) significantly higher than carbon dioxide (CO2), being over 20 to 28 times more powerful on a 100-year scale [3]. To mitigate its immediate impact on global warming, methane is often converted into CO2 through a process known as flaring [2]. Flaring involves the controlled combustion of natural gas (primarily methane) with oxygen, which converts it into carbon dioxide, water, and heat [2]. This process is considered less harmful from a greenhouse gas perspective because CO2 has a lower GWP than the uncombusted methane that would otherwise be released through venting [2]. Flaring is commonly used in oil and gas operations for safety, maintenance, or when infrastructure to capture the gas is unavailable [2].

Sources

1. [3] https://www.worldbank.org/en/programs/gasflaringreduction/methane-explained
2. [2] https://www.energy.gov/sites/default/files/2021-08/Flaring%20and%20Venting%20Report%20to%20Congress%20Report.pdf