Satellite Analysis Identifies Repeat Permian Methane Emitters.

According to an analysis of satellite data by BloombergNEF, a few oil and gas operators in the Permian Basin are likely responsible for the majority of major methane emissions events in the area. The assets operated by West Texas Gas, Enterprise Products Partners LP, Energy Transfer LP, and Targa Resources Corp. were identified as potential super-emitters, with estimated emissions rates of 100 kilograms an hour or more. The US Environmental Protection Agency has implemented new regulations that charge large oil and gas companies for excessive methane emissions, with fees increasing over time. The regulations also include provisions that allow operators to apply emissions credits and potentially avoid paying fees. The BNEF analysis is one of the first to attribute individual methane observations from satellites to specific assets and operators. The study used data from the United Nations' International Methane Emissions Observatory. The new regulations are expected to prevent a significant amount of methane from escaping into the atmosphere. [Extracted from the article]