FT: Leaks from natural gas production in the US are smaller than some previous estimates, a study led by David Allen of the University of Texas concludes. Methan escape is roughly 10 per cent lower than the latest estimate used by the EPA, with a margin of about 9% either way. The study was funded mostly by nine oil and gas companies. ….A team led by Robert Howarth of Cornell University concluded last year: “When used to generate electricity, the shale-gas footprint is still significantly greater than that of coal” over a period of decades.
“Mr Allen’s team suggested one reason why they found less methane escaping from wells being brought into production was the spread of technology to capture the gas, which was in use on 67 per cent of the wells they studied. EPA regulations introduced last year will make such technology compulsory for gas wells by the start of 2015.”
….The study of escaped methane from production sites is the first report in a longer research programme, which will cover issues such as leaks from gas pipelines.
Future Today
