For a dozen years, study after scientific study has documented the vast amount of methane released to the atmosphere by oil and gas operations worldwide. Faced with mounting data, both producers and regulators have slowly but steadily ramped up efforts to cut these emissions, which are both a waste of natural resources and a powerful climate pollutant.
Until now, emphasis has largely been on chasing down large emissions sources, sometimes called super-emitters. After all, why not go after the biggest fish first? What’s more, big leaks are easier to find. But a new study led by EDF scientists builds an integrated analysis of measurement-based data spanning a range of emitting facilities across multiple US oil and gas basins calls this assumption into question.
Fall is a time for many of us to return to work after a (hopefully) relaxing summer break. For many state environmental regulators across the U.S., this fall is also an opportunity to dive in on the important issue of reducing methane emissions from oil and gas development. That’s why it is very encouraging that across the nation from Wyoming to Pennsylvania (and even in Texas) several states are already hard at work.
The EPA issued new standards to limit oil and gas methane pollution in March that for the first time apply to new and existing wells nationwide. These rules will cut pollution by 80% at covered sources according to EPA’s estimates by requiring a variety of actions like ensuring all wells are inspected regularly for leaks, swapping out polluting devices on wells and phasing out routine flaring at newly drilled wells.
In a move that will protect communities across the country, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will soon finalize new rules to reduce methane and other toxic, smog-forming pollution from the nation’s oil and gas industry.
Methane is a potent greenhouse gas that’s fueling much of the climate crisis due to the excessive warming it creates during its lifetime in the atmosphere. Methane makes up about 12% of total greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S., but it’s responsible for over 25% of current warming.
A new study out today in the journal Science finds that climate-warming methane emissions from flaring, the practice of burning off gas rather than capturing it for productive use, are five times higher than government estimates — primarily due to unlit and malfunctioning flares. Researchers conclude that flares are combusting at a 91% efficiency rate, significantly lower than the 98% efficiency rate that is assumed by operators and policymakers.
These findings confirm that our current environmental standards are not adequately controlling this pollution source and underline the need for urgent regulatory action from the Environmental Protection Agency and Bureau of Land Management to limit pollution and waste from flaring.
A new EDF map is making it easier to access information about the communities across the country who are impacted by pollution from small oil and gas wells with leak-prone equipment.
There are over half a million wells across the country that are producing less than 15 barrels of oil and gas a day. But while they produce just 6% of the nation’s oil and gas, a new study reveals they are causing half of wellsite pollution nationwide.
Explore the map to learn more about your county.
This pollution has a very real impact on the climate and on the health of communities who live near these facilities. Not only do these facilities emit significant volumes of the potent greenhouse gas methane, they also leak other pollution that is toxic to human health and can severely deteriorate air quality.
Nearly 8 million people across the country live within half a mile of these well sites. A closer look at the data reveals that pollution from these wells has a disproportionate impact on many historically marginalized or vulnerable communities.
