Small Leaks Drive Methane Emissions in Permian Basin

A satellite image reveals a colorful blob, sharpened to highlight a concrete oil pad spewing methane. This stark visualization underscores a critical issue in the Permian Basin, a 75,000-square-mile oil and gas region spanning Texas and New Mexico. The basin, the world’s most productive oil and gas area, emits vast amounts of methane—a potent greenhouse gas—from wells, compressors, and equipment.

Efforts to curb emissions have largely focused on “super emitters,” which are significant sources detectable with advancing satellite and aerial sensing technologies. However, new research reveals that smaller, often-overlooked sources account for 72% of methane emissions from U.S. oil and gas fields.

“It’s essential to address the problem from both ends,” said James Williams, a postdoctoral researcher at the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) and lead author of a comprehensive study on methane emissions in oil and gas basins. “High-emitting super emitters matter, but so do the smaller ones.”

The Scope of the Methane Challenge

Methane, responsible for about one-third of greenhouse gas emissions contributing to climate change, traps over 80 times more heat than carbon dioxide in the short term. Its concentrations have tripled since pre-industrial times.

Addressing methane emissions in the Permian Basin is especially challenging due to the sheer scale of operations. Over 130,000 active well sites, owned by entities ranging from family businesses to international conglomerates, contribute to emissions. Each site may house multiple wells, and pipelines, processing facilities, and other infrastructure involve thousands of potential leakage points.

Steve Hamburg, EDF’s chief scientist, described the Permian as “the most complicated basin in the world,” with a mix of operators and equipment density that complicates mitigation efforts.

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Detecting Methane: Advances in Technology

An Israeli company, Momentick, using satellite data and artificial intelligence, detected 50 methane plumes from 16 of 30 monitored sites in Midland County, Texas. Most leaks exceeded 4,500 kilograms of methane per hour, with some surpassing 10,000—well above the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) threshold for super emitters.

Small emissions near populated areas also raised concerns. “Seeing a lot of small emissions in such a crowded place, so close to where people live, was surprising,” said Omer Shenhar, Momentick’s vice president of product.

The recently launched MethaneSAT, a powerful satellite designed to detect small emissions across wide areas, promises to revolutionize methane monitoring. “We’ve never had this level of capability,” Hamburg said. The satellite will enable researchers to track methane emissions in major oil-producing regions globally, though ground operators will still need to locate smaller sources.

Policy and Industry Response

New EPA rules require oil and gas companies to routinely inspect for leaks at new and existing sites and phase out flaring, the practice of burning excess methane. The regulations mandate upgrades to equipment that leaks methane, with states required to implement these measures by 2026.

Additionally, under a recent Biden administration rule, companies must pay a federal fee for methane leaks exceeding specific thresholds. However, this rule could face challenges under future administrations.

Despite methane’s commercial value as the primary component of natural gas, many operators in the Permian Basin treat it as a byproduct of oil production, opting to flare it due to insufficient pipeline infrastructure.

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Tackling the Issue at Scale

Super emitters, while impactful, are often fleeting but can persist for weeks, months, or even years. Tackling both super emitters and smaller leaks is essential for meaningful progress.

“Every emission counts,” said Riley Duren, CEO of the nonprofit Carbon Mapper. “It’s less about the percentage of total emissions from large versus small sources and more about using the information to address the issue effectively.”

With thousands of pieces of equipment vulnerable to leaks, the challenge remains vast. Yet, advances in technology and policy offer a pathway to addressing methane emissions and reducing their impact on the climate.

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