Industry groups dispute new EDF research on growing emissions

A new study from Environmental Defense Fund and Harvard University released April 22 said methane emitted by oil and gas companies through venting and flaring in Permian Basin continues to grow to record levels. And industry groups such as Texas Methane and Flaring Coalition and Texas Oil and Gas Association continue to criticize the EDF findings. Association president Todd Staples said the coalition is making great strides in cutting methane emissions. “Industry is developing innovations, pioneering technologies, and achieving efficiencies that are successfully reducing emissions,” Staples told Bloomberg.
The latest research, published in the journal Science Advances, said leakage rate in Permian Basin is about 60 percent higher than the national average and is enough to supply gas to seven million homes. Researchers from EDF and Harvard used satellite data from 2018 and 2019. A separate analysis by Osla-based Rystad Energy released in February found less methane emissions from Permian.