Methane emissions fall for 3rd consecutive year -- EPA
By Pamela King, E&E Publishing.
Greenhouse gas emissions from the oil and gas sector are on the rise, but methane leakage continues to fall, according to new U.S. EPA data.
Petroleum and natural gas systems emitted 236 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent into the atmosphere in 2014, up from 228 million metric tons CO2e in 2013, yesterday's updateto EPA's Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program (GHGRP) shows. Methane emissions ticked down from 77 million metric tons CO2e in 2013 to 73 million metric tons CO2e last year, marking the third consecutive year that measurement has declined.
"The EPA expects that the GHGRP will be an important tool for the Agency and the public to analyze emissions and understand emissions trends," EPA wrote in its oil and gas emissions profile.