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The measuring plane could cover about 100 times more area than previous ground surveys. Passing over active wells and pipelines in the New Mexico section of the basin, the plane detected 1,985 methane clouds over 15 months.
In addition to discovering higher-than-expected levels of methane leaks, the survey also identified several mega-emission sites. About 5% of the fumes detected by the aircraft were responsible for more than half of the measured emissions.
Adding findings calls to toughen methane regulations for oil and gas producers. From 2018 to 2020, when this data was collected, oil production was booming, and regulations in this area were laxer than they are today. New Mexico recently passed legislation Prohibition of routine burning of excess natural gas. Stronger federal policies are still needed to reduce emissions in other oil-producing states like Texas, he says. Jon GoldsteinHe is a senior policy director at the Environmental Defense Fund.
In any case, the new findings show how comprehensive surveys can shed light on methane emissions that are often poorly understood, even in large oil and gas basins like the Permian. As governments continue to target emissions, identifying pain points can be a useful first step.
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