Methane Study Discovers Ultra Emitters
/A recent study in Science, titled Global Assessment of Oil and Gas Methane Ultra-Emitters, studied methane emissions from oil and gas operations and their contribution to greenhouse gasses (GHGs) in the atmosphere and the resulting climate change effects.
For the study, a team of French and American scientists used high-resolution atmospheric modeling and machine-learning algorithms to detect and quantify methane plumes. Data was provided in part by monitoring company Kayrros.
Alexandre d’Aspremont, study contributor and Kayrros cofounder and scientific director, said, “Our study supplies a first systematic estimate of large methane leaks that can only be seen from space, showing how these detections relate to wider methane monitoring processes.”
Over the two years of the study, researchers detected about 1,800 ultra-emitters—those releasing 25 tons per hour or more of methane. About 1,200 of those come from oil and gas facilities, and the remainder come from a combination of coal mines, agriculture, and waste management.
Eliminating just the oil and gas related events would be like removing 20 million cars from the road, based on the 100-year global warming power of methane.
Right now, methane emissions tracking relies mostly on self-reporting, which is inconsistent and unreliable. Thanks to satellite monitoring, reporting is expected to become more independent and transparent.
If you want to learn more about emerging energy methane programs, detection, technology, and projects, check out the 2nd Annual Methane Strategies Forum, June 20-22, 2022, in Houston, TX.
