New Study Measures Methane Emissions During Fracking

The Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences recently published a study conducted by the University of Texas that measured methane emissions from natural gas production, focusing specifically on emissions at well sites conducting hydraulic fracturing operations.

The study included the direct measurement of methane emissions at 190 natural gas sites with 489 wells in the Gulf Coast, Midcontinent, Rocky Mountain, and Appalachian regions from May 2012 through December 2012. The study concluded that emissions of methane, a greenhouse gas and primary component of natural gas, were lower than previously estimated during well completion but are higher than previously estimated from other aspects of production, including from pneumatic controllers and equipment leaks. The study's finding that 99% of methane emissions during completion are captured by containment measures is significantly greater than had been previously estimated using engineering estimates