{"id":21113,"date":"2021-06-10T10:23:04","date_gmt":"2021-06-10T14:23:04","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/energyexchange\/?p=21113"},"modified":"2026-01-13T14:55:26","modified_gmt":"2026-01-13T19:55:26","slug":"what-new-permian-research-means-for-u-s-methane-policy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/energyexchange\/2021\/06\/10\/what-new-permian-research-means-for-u-s-methane-policy\/","title":{"rendered":"What new Permian research means for U.S. methane policy"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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By Dan Grossman<\/a> and Ben Hmiel<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

Newly released research is shedding more light on the largest sources of methane emissions in the nation\u2019s largest oilfield.<\/p>\n

Methane is an extremely potent greenhouse gas and has a huge impact on the current rate of global warming. The oil and gas industry is one of the biggest emitters.<\/p>\n

Using a helicopter equipped with an infrared camera, we surveyed over a thousand sites across the Permian Basin to get specific information about the types of facilities, equipment and events that make the Permian Basin the highest-polluting oilfield in the country. Three things immediately stood out.<\/p>\n

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More equipment equals more emissions<\/strong><\/p>\n

We wanted to learn more about emissions from \u201cmarginal wells\u201d \u2014 those that typically produce less than 15 barrels of oil or 60,000 cubic feet of gas a day. Despite the fact that marginal wells make up the vast majority of wells across the country, operators often seek to have them exempted from emissions standards. The argument is based on an assumption that because they produce less, they pollute less. But that is not the case. Our research indicates it is the volume of equipment \u2014 not the volume of production \u2014 that is likely to impact emissions levels.<\/p>\nWhat new Permian research means for U.S. methane policy <\/a><\/span>Share on X<\/a><\/span>\n

We looked at two types of marginal well sites:<\/p>\n