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by James Bradbury James Bradbury and Michael Obeiter - April 02, 2013
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Natural gas is booming in the United States. Production has increased by 20 percent
in the last five years, fueled largely by technological advances in shale gas
extraction. Other countries--including China--are now studying our experience with
this abundant new resource.
But the growing role of natural gas in the U.S. energy mix hasnt come without
controversy. Natural gas development poses a variety of environmental risks. In
addition to habitat disruption and impacts on local water and air quality, one of the
most significant concerns is the climate impact resulting from the fugitive methane
emissions that escape into the atmosphere from various points along the natural
gas supply chain.
So what are fugitive methane emissions, and how big of a problem are they? How
do emissions from natural gas compare to those from coal? And are there ways to
mitigate them? The answers to these questions will help us better understand how
natural gas development will affect climate change.
What Are Fugitive Methane Emissions, and How Do They Contribute to Climate
Change?
There is still considerable uncertainty over the amount of fugitive methane emitted
over the lifetime of a natural gas well. However, some aspects generate little
debatenamely, that emissions from natural gas production are substantial and
occur at every stage of the natural gas life cycle, from pre-production through
production, processing, transmission, and distribution. The U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that more than 6 million metric tons of fugitive
methane leaked from natural gas systems in 2011. Measured as CO2-equivalent
over a 100 year time horizon, thats more greenhouse gases than were emitted by
all U.S. iron and steel, cement, and aluminum manufacturing facilities combined.
Many ongoing studies aim to provide more clarity on the extent of fugitive methane
emissions from natural gas. Well get a clearer picture when data from these studies
is looked at in conjunction with industry data reported to the EPA Greenhouse Gas
Reporting Program. But with about 500,000 existing natural gas wells, thousands of
miles of pipeline, and a growing interest in natural gas development, well never
have a truly complete picture of the amount of methane being emitted.
Is Natural Gas Better than Coal?
The critical question is: Given the current extent of U.S. natural gas productionand
the fact that production is projected to expand by more than 50 percent in the
coming decadesare we doing everything we can to ensure that emissions are as
low as is technologically and economically feasible? The answer to that question
today is clearly no.
How Can We Mitigate Natural Gass Impact?