'This is a really big deal': Canada natural gas emissions far worse than feared

[nitpicker]

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/oct/17/study-methane-emissions-from-alberta-oil-and-gas-wells-are-worse-than-thought

'This is a really big deal': Canada natural gas emissions far worse than feared

Ashifa Kassam in Toronto

Tuesday 17 October 2017 22.41 BST

Alberta’s oil and gas industry – Canada’s largest producer of fossil fuel resources – could be emitting 25 to 50% more methane than previously believed, new research has suggested. The pioneering peer reviewed study, published in Environmental Science & Technology on Tuesday, used airplane surveys to measure methane emissions from oil and gas infrastructure in two regions in Alberta. The results were then compared with industry-reported emissions and estimates of unreported sources of the powerful greenhouse gas, which warm the planet more than 20 times as much as similar volumes of carbon dioxide.
(snip)

Carried out last autumn, the survey measured the airborne emissions of thousands of oil and gas wells in the regions. Researchers also tracked the amount of ethane to ensure that methane emissions from cattle would not end up in their results.

In one region dominated by heavy oil wells, researchers found that the type of heavy oil recovery used released 3.6 times more methane than previously believed. The technique is used in several other sites across the province, suggesting emissions from these areas are also underestimated. In the second region, home to a mix of gas and light oil wells, researchers found results that were roughly equal to those reported by industry and unreported sources. However, they found that only 6% of methane emissions in this region were from industry-reported sources, with the remaining emissions, known as fugitive emissions, from unreported sources such as unintentional equipment leaks.

The finding could have major implications as Alberta and Ottawa strive to reduce methane emissions by 45% from 2012 levels by 2025, said Johnson. “It shows how much isn’t captured in current reporting requirements, and therein is a challenge and an opportunity all wrapped in one.”
(snip)

[canuckledragger]

1. No wonder Harper tried to muzzle environmental scientists and destroyed research.

It would've exposed things like this.

[justhanginon]

2. Sounds like something the village idiot trump is doing especially with

the EPA. Disgusting and we will all pay the price with poorer health because of industries calling the shots for environmental policies. It makes it difficult to try and change things for the better without accurate information and statistics. Of couse, we all know, that is the ultimate goal of industry and their shill trump, along with the republican party.

[hatrack]

3. Oops . . . .

.

[Dustlawyer]

4. They lie and there is no penalty.

If there is a big fine it is all for show, it is negotiated way down after the announcements.

'Unintentional equipment leaks" is shorthand for these companies lack of maintenance and willingness to address the problem which they know about. Meanwhile they brag about how safe and clean they are.

Before the 2005 Texas City, Texas BP oil refinery explosion that killed 15 and injured thousands, BP had an ad campaign touting their Green Energy projects. They spent $100,000,000 on the ad campaign and their new green logo. They spent $5,000,000 on the projects themselves. This is typical.