Adrian Hedden,
Carlsbad Current-Argus
Methane emissions continued to rise in the Permian Basin this fall, and environmentalists used their own research on the matter to advocate for stricter federal air pollution controls on the oil and gas industry.
The Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) last week released the results of an aerial survey of 900 oil and gas sites in the Permian Basin, which spans southeast New Mexico and West Texas, finding “significant plumes” of methane coming from 40 percent of the sites.
About 14 percent of the emissions were from malfunctioning flares, the report read, while 30 percent of the surveyed pipelines were releasing methane into the air and about half of all midstream facilities studied also had emissions.
Methane is a greenhouse gas known to be a byproduct of oil and gas production and can lead to respiratory illness or cancer after long-term exposure to people.
The study conducted between Nov. 12 and Nov. 21 and released Dec. 14 was the eighth as part of the EDF’s broader PermianMAP project to track emissions in the region – the U.S.’ most active oilfields.
Researchers attached infrared cameras to a helicopter to study emissions at sites previously observed in past PermianMAP studies, allegedly finding about half of the measured sites had reoccurring releases of methane.
The study also looked at specifically smaller-producing sites and the reoccurrence of emissions within a week, finding a third of such facilities had emissions that continued for days.
Dave Lyon, senior scientist with the EDF said the research indicated stronger policy was needed to reduce emissions and thus air pollution from oil and gas operations.
He said requirements to increase inspection frequency and repair leaks and malfunctioning equipment was an important step to mitigating the industry’s contributions to climate change.
More: 'The time is now': New Mexico taking action on oil and gas-induced earthquakes
“There are dozens of reasons why a site might be emitting high levels of methane. The only way to know what’s going on and to ensure things are operating properly is to regularly check sites for problems that lead to massive pollution,” Lyon said.
“Our research has consistently shown that leaks can and do happen at all types of facilities – including smaller, leak-prone wells – and the best way to control emissions is to find and fix them.”
Jon Goldstein, senior director of regulatory and legislative affairs said the federal government must take action to ensure oil companies in all states operate under adequate pollution controls.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency was developing new rules targeting methane emissions, seeking to expand the regulatory applicability to not only newly-built oil and gas facilities but existing sites throughout the U.S.
The EPA recently extended a public comment period for the drafted rules, which include added leak detection and repair requirement, to Jan. 31, 2022, contending that when enacted the proposal would cut nationwide methane emissions by 30 percent by 2030.
“The EPA has a real opportunity to change the game and make a meaningful dent in our methane pollution,” Goldstein said. “This research makes clear that the agency must tackle frequent, large emissions from smaller wells if we’re going to have a shot at achieving our climate goals and protecting communities from air pollution.”
More: Smaller 'independent' oil and gas producers leading Permian Basin growth, study says
EPA Administrator Michael Regan said the regulations would ensure “long-lasting” pollution reductions while also encouraging technological advancement within the industry aimed at addressing environmental concerns.
The Agency’s data showed the oil and gas industry was the U.S.’ largest emitter of methane emissions, and that a third of greenhouse gasses, which cause global warming, were generated by human activities.
The industry in the U.S. emits more methane and greenhouse gas than 164 countries combine, per the EPA, also including volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and other pollutants.
More: Benefits of oil and gas debated in Congress as feds ready to lease more land in New Mexico
The EPA estimated its proposed rules would prevent the release of 41 million tons of methane from 2023 to 2035, and also recover up to $49 billion in natural gas that would otherwise go to waste during that timeframe.
“With this historic action, EPA is addressing existing sources from the oil and natural gas industry nationwide, in addition to updating rules for new sources, to ensure robust and lasting cuts in pollution across the country,” Regan said.
“By building on existing technologies and encouraging innovative new solutions, we are committed to a durable final rule that is anchored in science and the law, that protects communities living near oil and natural gas facilities, and that advances our nation’s climate goals under the Paris Agreement.”
More: Interior's proposed fossil fuel reforms criticized by industry, New Mexico environmentalists
But the proposal drew concern from oil and gas industry leaders who said the cost of compliance with such rules could threaten economic prosperity brought on by fossil fuel development.
In public testimony given by Kevin O’Scannlain, vice president of upstream policy with the American Petroleum Institute, he argued the EPA must take into account the cost and availability of equipment that would need to be retrofitted at oil and gas sites to comply with the rules.
He said the Institute – of the industry’s largest, national trade groups, support federal regulation of methane but that the rules must reflect the needs of the industry along with environmental protection.
“With respect to rule implementation, we urge EPA to carefully consider the availability and cost of equipment, labor and other required resources needed to comply with the proposed standards,” O’Scannlain wrote in his submitted testimony.
“These aspects are especially critical in setting workable implementation timelines, given the hundreds of thousands of existing sources that may require retrofit, and current well-documented supply chain shortages.”
Adrian Hedden achedden@currentargus.com or @AdrianHedden on Twitter.
This article originally appeared on Carlsbad Current-Argus: Research shows Permian Basin oil and gas air pollution on the rise
Tue, December 21, 2021
Methane emissions continued to rise in the Permian Basin this fall, and environmentalists used their own research on the matter to advocate for stricter federal air pollution controls on the oil and gas industry.
The Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) last week released the results of an aerial survey of 900 oil and gas sites in the Permian Basin, which spans southeast New Mexico and West Texas, finding “significant plumes” of methane coming from 40 percent of the sites.
About 14 percent of the emissions were from malfunctioning flares, the report read, while 30 percent of the surveyed pipelines were releasing methane into the air and about half of all midstream facilities studied also had emissions.
Methane is a greenhouse gas known to be a byproduct of oil and gas production and can lead to respiratory illness or cancer after long-term exposure to people.
The study conducted between Nov. 12 and Nov. 21 and released Dec. 14 was the eighth as part of the EDF’s broader PermianMAP project to track emissions in the region – the U.S.’ most active oilfields.
Researchers attached infrared cameras to a helicopter to study emissions at sites previously observed in past PermianMAP studies, allegedly finding about half of the measured sites had reoccurring releases of methane.
The study also looked at specifically smaller-producing sites and the reoccurrence of emissions within a week, finding a third of such facilities had emissions that continued for days.
Dave Lyon, senior scientist with the EDF said the research indicated stronger policy was needed to reduce emissions and thus air pollution from oil and gas operations.
He said requirements to increase inspection frequency and repair leaks and malfunctioning equipment was an important step to mitigating the industry’s contributions to climate change.
More: 'The time is now': New Mexico taking action on oil and gas-induced earthquakes
“There are dozens of reasons why a site might be emitting high levels of methane. The only way to know what’s going on and to ensure things are operating properly is to regularly check sites for problems that lead to massive pollution,” Lyon said.
“Our research has consistently shown that leaks can and do happen at all types of facilities – including smaller, leak-prone wells – and the best way to control emissions is to find and fix them.”
Jon Goldstein, senior director of regulatory and legislative affairs said the federal government must take action to ensure oil companies in all states operate under adequate pollution controls.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency was developing new rules targeting methane emissions, seeking to expand the regulatory applicability to not only newly-built oil and gas facilities but existing sites throughout the U.S.
The EPA recently extended a public comment period for the drafted rules, which include added leak detection and repair requirement, to Jan. 31, 2022, contending that when enacted the proposal would cut nationwide methane emissions by 30 percent by 2030.
“The EPA has a real opportunity to change the game and make a meaningful dent in our methane pollution,” Goldstein said. “This research makes clear that the agency must tackle frequent, large emissions from smaller wells if we’re going to have a shot at achieving our climate goals and protecting communities from air pollution.”
More: Smaller 'independent' oil and gas producers leading Permian Basin growth, study says
EPA Administrator Michael Regan said the regulations would ensure “long-lasting” pollution reductions while also encouraging technological advancement within the industry aimed at addressing environmental concerns.
The Agency’s data showed the oil and gas industry was the U.S.’ largest emitter of methane emissions, and that a third of greenhouse gasses, which cause global warming, were generated by human activities.
The industry in the U.S. emits more methane and greenhouse gas than 164 countries combine, per the EPA, also including volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and other pollutants.
More: Benefits of oil and gas debated in Congress as feds ready to lease more land in New Mexico
The EPA estimated its proposed rules would prevent the release of 41 million tons of methane from 2023 to 2035, and also recover up to $49 billion in natural gas that would otherwise go to waste during that timeframe.
“With this historic action, EPA is addressing existing sources from the oil and natural gas industry nationwide, in addition to updating rules for new sources, to ensure robust and lasting cuts in pollution across the country,” Regan said.
“By building on existing technologies and encouraging innovative new solutions, we are committed to a durable final rule that is anchored in science and the law, that protects communities living near oil and natural gas facilities, and that advances our nation’s climate goals under the Paris Agreement.”
More: Interior's proposed fossil fuel reforms criticized by industry, New Mexico environmentalists
But the proposal drew concern from oil and gas industry leaders who said the cost of compliance with such rules could threaten economic prosperity brought on by fossil fuel development.
In public testimony given by Kevin O’Scannlain, vice president of upstream policy with the American Petroleum Institute, he argued the EPA must take into account the cost and availability of equipment that would need to be retrofitted at oil and gas sites to comply with the rules.
He said the Institute – of the industry’s largest, national trade groups, support federal regulation of methane but that the rules must reflect the needs of the industry along with environmental protection.
“With respect to rule implementation, we urge EPA to carefully consider the availability and cost of equipment, labor and other required resources needed to comply with the proposed standards,” O’Scannlain wrote in his submitted testimony.
“These aspects are especially critical in setting workable implementation timelines, given the hundreds of thousands of existing sources that may require retrofit, and current well-documented supply chain shortages.”
Adrian Hedden achedden@currentargus.com or @AdrianHedden on Twitter.
This article originally appeared on Carlsbad Current-Argus: Research shows Permian Basin oil and gas air pollution on the rise
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