A peer-reviewed, Stanford-led study involving more than 50 scientists was published this week by Nature. It reveals alarming information about emissions from oil and gas systems. The authors integrated approximately one million aerial site measurements into emission inventories for regions of the USA. They found greenhouse gas releases were about 3x federal government estimates.
As airborne methane surveys of oil and gas systems continue to discover large emissions that are missing from official estimates, the true scope of methane emissions from energy production has yet to be quantified.
Emissions of millions of tons of dangerous methane each year result from unplanned leaks and intentional venting. Ancillary midstream facilities, including pipelines, contribute a large share of emissions, but in all segments of production and transport, a relatively small number of sites were identified as the worst emitters.
Greenhouse gas releases could be greatly reduced if modern detection technologies were routinely employed and abatement actions taken immediately. Unfortunately, that seems unlikely since regulators and governments remain dedicated to increasing oil and gas production and easing the obstacles encountered by producers.
According to the UN’s Global Methane Assessment, readily achievable mitigation could limit warming while simultaneously reducing ground-level ozone concentrations. Writers of the report conclude these steps could avoid a quarter million premature deaths and reduce the prevalence of asthma. Reducing ground level ozone would protect ecosystems and plants and increase global crop yields.
Knowing what we know about the existential risks of pollutants and climate change, how did we get to 2024 without maximizing efforts to accurately measure and reduce methane emissions?
The economic charge on the industry and the public is large and continuous. Scientists concluded:
Together, the emissions quantified here represent an annual loss of roughly US$1 billion in commercial gas value and a US$9.3 billion annual social costs.
Methane is a potent greenhouse gas, trapping 86 times more heat in the atmosphere than carbon dioxide.
In fact, nearly 20% of the planet’s warming can be attributed to methane.
And, because it’s often paired with other toxic pollutants such as benzene, formaldehyde, and ethylbenzene, the release of methane into the air can cause debilitating health problems for the millions of people who live near oil and gas operations.
Methane: A Dangerous Problem, An Easy Solution
Technology is available to reduce harmful methane pollution. For years, environmental organizations have demanded that polluters and regulators should use it. Regular surveys should be comprehensive so that leaks can be quickly mitigated.
Because government regulators — particularly in Western Canada — have had little interest in close scrutiny of oil and gas operations, it is a near certainty that greenhouse gas escapes are also higher than acceptable in this country.
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Categories: Fossil Gas, oil and gas
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Just a short rant. Yes we can point fingers at O & G and Premiers because they are easy targets however the industry needs employees and Premiers need voters. When do the voters and employees of said industry take some responsibility of the dystopian path we are on?
Proportional representation should be a strong consideration again to try an address the power grab of FPP entails and perhaps some form of climate causing effect index of working in various industries for those choosing a career. Macleans magazine at one time use to rate post secondary Canadian Universities on their various faculty strengths I believe.sort of an annual seed catalog but based on Universities.
The O & G industry certainly needs employees but certainly not for more exploration but curtailment and methane issues that are both increasing not decreasing.
It would be interesting to know where employment in the O & G industry stands as a career choice among the current generation. If not that great you might think that the Federal immigration policy will be lobbied “hell or high water” to address any shortfall of workers who may be more than willing and capable to come and yes climate will take care of the “high water”.
Onward and downward
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