A study released by NASA on Monday said gas production is largely to blame for the methane hot spot found over the Four Corners in 2014. And with that, it is easy to see the way forward.
In response to the NASA study, a press release from local gas industry groups said it was “a good first step, but narrow in scope compared to other pending studies.” It added that “studies are under way that will include on-the-ground measurements of all sources of methane in the Four Corners area. ... conducted by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the University of Colorado and the University of Michigan in conjunction with NASA.”
Fair enough. NOAA, NASA and the two universities are respected institutions and it is always worthwhile to gain more information. Further study will almost certainly add to our understanding and allow relevant authorities to fine tune the response.
But what should also be understood is that NASA and NOAA do sound science. Monday’s results may well be clarified or expanded, but as the scale of the problem suggests, the likelihood of further studies repudiating the results of the just-released report is vanishingly small.
The industry statement says there are almost 20,000 active gas wells and 2,000 oil wells in Northwest New Mexico and another active 3,400 gas wells in Southwest Colorado, two-thirds of which are coal-bed methane. In total, those wells yielded more than 900 billion cubic feet of gas in 2015. Leaks are to be expected – and to add up.
They should not, however, be tolerated. Leaked or otherwise lost methane is destructive to the environment. But in wasted methane the industry is also seeing its principal product blowing away. It is in everyone’s interest to capture all produced methane. And while there is little we can do about China, gas leaks are local and involve known technology.
The gas companies are justly proud of their role in reducing green house gases by helping to supplant coal with cleaner-burning natural gas. They should take equal pride in reducing leaked methane – without waiting for the last word in research.
