A comprehensive study published in the journal Nature reveals that methane emissions from US oil and natural gas operations are three times higher than previously estimated by the government.
These emissions contribute to $9.3 billion in annual climate damage. However, the study highlights that over half of these emissions originate from a small fraction of sites, making the problem both more severe than anticipated but also potentially manageable.
Lead author Evan Sherwin, an energy and policy analyst at the US Department of Energy’s Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, emphasizes the opportunity for rapid emissions reduction by targeting the highest-emitting sites. He underscores that addressing approximately 1% of sites responsible for over half of the emissions could significantly mitigate the issue.
The study identifies various sources of methane emissions throughout the oil and gas production and delivery system, including gas flaring and leaks from tanks, compressors, and pipelines. Sherwin notes that while the problem is substantial, solutions are within reach.
The research, based on anonymized measurements from aircraft covering a significant portion of US oil and gas sites over a decade, found that approximately 3% of US gas production is wasted and released into the atmosphere, higher than previous EPA estimates of 1%.
Methane, a potent greenhouse gas, traps about 80 times more heat than carbon dioxide over a two-decade period. Despite its shorter lifespan in the atmosphere, methane emissions contribute significantly to global warming, with approximately 30% of the world’s warming since preindustrial times attributed to methane.
In response to the findings, the Biden administration recently implemented new regulations to reduce methane emissions from the US oil and natural gas industry. Additionally, 50 oil companies globally pledged to achieve near-zero methane emissions and end routine flaring in operations by 2030. These efforts are expected to have a measurable impact on future warming, highlighting the importance of targeted methane mitigation strategies.
The launch of the MethaneSat observation satellite further emphasizes the growing trend of monitoring methane emissions from above, providing valuable data to support emissions reduction efforts. Despite the environmental benefits, the lost methane is estimated to be worth approximately $1 billion annually, underscoring the economic incentives for emissions reduction in the energy sector.
