Oil and gas industry leaks methane gas at alarming rates

In recent months, satellite technology has been deployed to track and analyze methane emissions from various regions around the world. The satellite, known as MethaneSAT, has concluded that the oil and gas sector is releasing methane—an invisible greenhouse gas—at rates significantly exceeding estimates from the Environmental Protection Agency. Notably, the Permian Basin in the United States is leaking between 9 and 14.5 times more methane than the industry agreed to in 2023, contributing to nearly 640,000 pounds of emissions per hour. Similarly, other regions like the Appalachia Basin and Utah's Uinta Basin are also identified as major contributors to methane pollution, with leak rates reported at four times and astonishingly 45 times their respective agreed limits. Among the most concerning areas is the South Caspian Basin in Turkmenistan, notorious for its high methane intensity. The basin's leak rate is reported to be 1.5 times that of the Permian Basin, releasing over 970,000 pounds of methane per hour. Aging infrastructure, some dating back to the Soviet era, has been highlighted as a key factor in Turkmenistan's suboptimal performance regarding methane management. This data has raised alarms as regulators seem to lack understanding of the extent of the pollution, leading experts to express urgency in addressing the leaks and implementing more strict and effective mitigation strategies. Notably, the satellite technology has also allowed for insights into methane emissions in Venezuela, a country grappling with challenges in capturing its emissions due to frequent cloud cover. Recent observations have identified significant emissions hot spots that have hitherto remained largely undocumented. Experts consider tackling methane emissions a critical and fast track solution to mitigating climate change impacts, arguing that significant reductions can be made by focusing on the oil and gas sector, which has been termed as the 'low-hanging fruit' of methane mitigation efforts. The information derived from MethaneSAT's observations indicates a pressing need for regulatory bodies to adapt and incorporate newer data into their monitoring strategies. With methane deemed a more potent greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide, the urgency to address these emissions is paramount for global climate action strategies to be effective. Scientists warn that without immediate actions to stem methane leaks, the planet is at serious risk of reaching irreversible climate change thresholds.