Oil & Gas companies Are Missing Significant Methane Emissions. Here’s How To Fix That

The IRA’s methane charges are on the horizon, but first we need to clean up the data.

Self-reported emission inventories by large oil and gas (O&G) operators in the United States are significantly underreported, inhibiting climate progress. Even when companies follow federal guidelines, emissions slip through the cracks because those guidelines follow simplistic assumptions of routine operations with minimal methane leakage. However, this reporting can miss “super-emitting” events, which are large enough to be seen by satellites and can contribute a substantial share of O&G emissions.

Empirical data can enhance emissions transparency, fill gaps in self-reported inventories, and guide O&G climate action. Without accurate accounting, policies like the new Waste Emissions Charge on O&G…