Methane Leaks Are Far Worse Than Estimates

The amount of methane – which is a potent greenhouse gas that is 30 times better at trapping sunlight than carbon dioxide over more than 100 years. This gas is leaking from a huge US oil and gas producing region. This is several times greater than the federal government estimates according to a research study carried on by Stanford University!

Using airborne sensors which are able to detect methane leaks from oil and gas facilities, the researchers from Stanford University studied the Permian Banian oil factory in New Mexico. This factory produces one of the most amounts of oil and gas in the world! The researchers are estimating that more than 9 percent of all methane produced in this factory is being released into the sky! The amount of methane is far higher than what EPA estimates!

Environmental researchers fear that leaks from mines, wells, facilities, etc are underreported! So whenever you see a methane leak! Make sure to report it to environmental agencies!

Let’s hope that someone will stop this methane leak to make our earth a better place to live!

Author: Sri Nihal Tammana

Source: Stanford University