Methane leaks from the US oil and gas industry are 60% greater than official estimates

 

All pipelines leak and gas pipelines here are no exception in the UK we accept that about 5% of the methane gas can naturally escape out of pipes, but because our pipes are buried in fact this figure is lower and is currently at about 3% gas loss. The USA tolerates a lower loss limit of 4% however studies have shown that because pipes are above ground and probably not maintained as well the leakage rate of methane from these pipes is at least at 9%. These fugitive emissions equal 60% of all coal power CO2 emissions in the USA. This is also worrying because the USA is building more gas power stations to replace their aging and very dirty coal power stations. Methane is a very potent greenhouse gas and scientists say that the accounted for emissions could have significant impacts on the climate and on the USA economy the loss gas alone is worth an estimated $2 billion a year.




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