EPA final methane emissions rule broadens limits to low-producing wells
The US Environmental Protection Agency issued a final rule designed to limit methane emissions from new US oil and gas wells and storage tanks on May 12 that also expands restrictions to wells producing fewer than 15 b/d.
“These new rules will cripple stripper and marginal well owners and operators, and on top of historically low oil prices, we are looking at total disaster,” National Stripper Well Association (NSWA) Chair Darlene Wallace immediately responded.
Other oil and gas associations and their top officials were equally critical. EPA’s own statistics show US gas producers reduced emissions 15% since 1990 as production increased by more than 35%, the Natural Gas Supply Association said in a May 12 statement. “Unfortunately, these improvements and innovations could be stifled by regulations that force a cookie-cutter, inefficient, and costly approach,” it warned.
“It doesn’t make sense that the administration would add unreasonable and overly burdensome regulations when the industry is already leading the way in reducing methane emissions,” API Vice-Pres. of Regulatory and Economic Policy Kyle Isakower said. “Imposing a one-size-fits-all scheme on the industry could actually stifle innovation and discourage investments in new technologies that could serve to further reduce emissions.”
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http://www.ogj.com/articles/2016/05/epa-final-methane-emissions-rule-broadens-limits-to-low-producing-wells.html
