Tracking Methane In The Permian: Under Shitstain's New Proposals, It's About To Get Much Worse

[hatrack]

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Because natural gas has been promoted by industry, politicians, and even some environmentalists as a “bridge fuel,” many don’t realize that methane leaking during oil and gas production negates the advantage of using natural gas instead of coal for energy, scientists say. While natural gas burns cleaner than coal, the methane that escapes during the production process has a potent warming effect on the climate. According to a recent Bloomberg report, “Producers in the Permian are already flaring record levels of natural gas. The Texas Railroad Commission, which oversees the oil and gas industry in the state, has granted nearly 6,000 permits allowing explorers to flare or vent natural gas this year. That’s more than 40 times as many permits granted at the start of the supply boom a decade ago.”

One the outskirts of Pecos, Wilson found multiple sites leaking methane on state land. The sites belonged to oil and gas company Diamond Back. At some of them she detected leaking methane for three days in a row. And at one, called “Desperado,” she thought what she was seeing was not only a potential violation, but an emergency situation because the emissions were so dense. She reported it to the TCEQ, calling from the site. After reporting her findings, Wilson was put on hold.

The agency's recorded message intermittently played music and information about the agency’s work. TCEQ’s recording gave advice on fixing water leaks and reminded those waiting on hold to “Remember, take care of Texas — it is the only one we have got.”

Wilson makes a point to revisit sites where she previously found methane emissions, tracking the pollution and how the TCEQ is responding, if at all. She had previously filed a complaint about the Desperado site. When she called from the field, sitting across from an unlit flare bellowing methane, she had hoped to speak with someone with direct knowledge of the complaints she had previously filed about that very site and others nearby. Unsuccessful, she shrugged and went on with inspecting the sites she had set out to monitor. I asked the TCEQ if the numerous reports Wilson has filed over the last couple years concerned the agency but didn’t receive a reply before publication.

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https://www.desmogblog.com/2020/01/30/sharon-wilson-methane-leaks-permian-basin-oilfields

[Mickju]

1. Our government is complicit in our destruction.