EDF Mapping Data is Preliminary, Comes With Caveats

Mark Green
Posted April 8, 2020

Some thoughts on the preliminary data from the Environmental Defense Fund’s (EDF) methane mapping project in the Permian Basin.

First, our industry welcomes new information that helps identify ways operators can further decrease methane emissions from production. The data must be verified (more on this below), and potentially could add to the knowledge base around the objective of reducing emissions.

Toward that objective, U.S. natural gas and oil companies launched The Environmental Partnership in  2017 with a focus on finding technologies, best practices and innovations that would capture as much methane as possible – since methane is the chief component in the natural gas our industry delivers to consumers. The Partnership, whose 75 members include 33 of the top 40 U.S. natural gas producers, is one of a number of industry-led initiatives that seek to further reduce methane emissions.

EDF’s research aims to show where different concentrations of methane are being emitted at production sites and facilities. Again, it’s preliminary and could change.

It also comes with a few caveats. It compares a selected portion of a vast, producing basin over a condensed time frame (2019-2020) to an aggregated estimate of national emissions in 2017. Since the national number will include basins that emit less methane than the Permian and since it is over a longer time period, the comparison is apples to oranges. The conclusions might or might not be accurate. Elizabeth Caldwell of Texans For Natural Gas said industry welcomes new ways to identify methane leaks and reduce emissions, but that the data in the EDF project only represents a snapshot in time and that “longer-term trends actually show a decline in methane intensity in the Permian.”

Here’s what we do know: Technology and know-how in reducing methane emissions from production is increasing. In the Permian, production grew nearly 170% from 2011 to 2018 while methane emissions relative to that production – measuring the effectiveness of measures taken to reduce emissions – fell nearly 45%, according to EPA data using a larger reporting system. Indeed, across some of the largest producing regions in the U.S., methane emissions rates were down nearly 70% (data here and here) from 2011-2018, even as combined production in those regions tripled.

Put another way: During a period of revolutionary U.S. production growth – growth that has increased U.S. energy security, boosted the economy and benefited consumers – producers have significantly increased their proficiency in capturing methane. API Senior Counselor Howard Feldman said through various initiatives industry has made great strides to cut emissions amid surging production:

“These initiatives underscore the industry’s commitment to leveraging new technologies and innovative practices that reduce emissions and establish clear pathways for continuous environmental improvement.”

As Feldman indicates, acquiring solid data to guide actions that further reduce methane emissions, and EDF’s research, once reviewed, could contribute to knowledge that helps do that. Our companies are very motivated to further reduce methane emissions – as evidenced by the participation of so many leading producers in The Environmental Partnership. Feldman:

“Through these commitments, and individually as companies, industry has taken an active role to partner with others, including EDF, to conduct research and advance our understanding of emissions, which is essential to securing environmental progress. As with any report, we will review the methods EDF used to validate the data and their preliminary conclusions.”