New Studies Specify Methane Leaks, Bolster Calls for Strong EPA Rules

"A new peer-reviewed analysis of sources of leaks in natural gas drilling and well operations strongly bolsters growing calls for the Environmental Protection Agency to settle on regulations cutting wasteful, harmful emissions of methane from both new and existing oil and natural gas wells.

Methane is the main constituent of natural gas but also a powerful heat-trapping gas that is often accompanied by other pollutants that can worsen local air pollution.

The study, by researchers at the University of Texas and URS, a consulting firm — with the cooperation of (and some funding from) the oil and gas industry and Environmental Defense Fund (more on that below) — shows that much of the pollution problem lies in a small subset of poorly operating systems or faulty processes — in this case valves run pneumatically using the pressure of extracted gas and operations that clear liquids from older wells."

Andrew C. Revkin reports for Dot Earth in the New York Times December 10, 2014.