Satellite Data Exposes A Massive Methane Problem

[Dan Clemmensen + 1,011]

New article: Satellite Data Exposes A Massive Methane Problem

This article neglects to mention the most interesting point: When a satellite sees a pipeline leak, the leak is likely to get fixed. The pipeline operator does not want to lose that gas. More generally, advanced sensing is very inexpensive compared to traditional methods, so we can better characterize the actual sources directly instead of just guesstimating. This is good news, not bad news.

The article says that cow farts are the biggest anthropogenic methane source, but that oil and gas contribute a lot more than was previously thought. Unfortunately the article does not break out the methane lost in oil and gas fields from the losses in transport, storage, and distribution. There is less economic incentive to reduce methane loss in the oil fields.

https://oilprice.com/Energy/Energy-General/Satellite-Data-Exposes-A-Massive-Methane-Problem.html