Simple Fixes Could Plug Methane Leaks from Energy Industry, Study Finds

Almost all of the climate-affecting methane leaks from oil and gas infrastructure could be reduced at relatively little expense, often by simply tightening bolts or replacing worn seals, suggests a new study by the Boston-based Clean Air Task Force. (See related story: “Green Fracking? 5 Technologies for Cleaner Shale Energy.”)

The report noted that unintentional leaks account for 30 percent of the methane emitted by the oil and gas industry, which after agriculture is the second biggest source of the potent greenhouse gas. (The bulk of the emissions is intentionally vented into the atmosphere, to regulate the extraction, processing and transmission of the fuels.)

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