A study by Norwegian research firm Rystad Energy says methane emissions in Permian Basin likely hit a record high in 2019Q2 after a small decline earlier this year. The report estimates that the volumes of methane from natural gas burned or vented into the atmosphere averaged 663 million cubic feet per day in 2019Q2 – more than triple the volumes of two years ago. The Houston Chronicle said, “The Permian has undergone a massive increase in natural gas flaring and venting in recent years, driven by higher activity and a lack of gas pipelines near the oil wells. Companies mostly only drill for the more valuable crude oil in the Permian, but associated gas comes out of the wells. Many companies opt to simply burn much of the gas away at the wellhead rather than possibly lose money transporting and selling the cheap gas.”
The report said methane emissions fell from 633 million cubic feet a day in late 2018 to 613 million cubic feet per day for 2019Q1