A new study by the University of Texas presents that natural gas-drilling sites are not actually leaking that much methane to the environment as previously believed.
The U.S. government and hydraulic-fracturing critics believe that natural gas is more dangerous than burning coal. However, the result of this study may finally lessen the concerns around the environmental effects of natural gas extractions.
The researchers measured the methane being emitted by 190 sites in which they found that methane leaks were less than the reported amount of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and other academic researchers. Their previous studies were based on estimates. Methane, which is the main component of natural gas, is a very strong greenhouse gas.
The results of measuring the gas emissions show that the greenhouse gases leaked by wells were about 20 percent lower than was previously estimated by the EPA. This is much lesser than that emitted by burning coal.
The researchers also found that the switches that turn the equipments on and off on-site - called "pneumatic switches" - have more leaks than expected.
The study used a new equipment called "green completions" designed to effectively capture methane . These are placed in pipelines which rule out emission. According to the paper, "For those wells with methane capture or control, 99 percent of the potential emissions were captured or controlled."
The study was published in the Sept. 16 issue of the online journal National Academy of Sciences.
While the researchers declared no conflict of interest on the study, the Wall Street Journal reports that critics were questioning the accuracy of the study as it was funded by fossil fuel firms which gave $250,000 each. These companies reportedly are Exxon Mobil, Anadarko Petroleum, Royal Dutch Shell, and Pioneer Natural Resources. One of the researchers used to work for a petro engineering company as well.
