New Mexico proposes crackdown on oil and gas industry's methane emissions

[ceo_energemsier + 1,818]

New Mexico proposes crackdown on oil and gas industry's methane emissions

 

 

(Reuters) - New Mexico this week proposed rules that would require its oil and gas industry to capture at least 98% of its emissions of the powerful greenhouse gas methane by 2026, a standard it said would be among the strongest in the nation.

The proposal, announced by state officials on Monday after consultations with industry, would impact drillers in New Mexico’s portion of the Permian Basin oil hub where production has surged in recent years.

“The draft rules lay out an achievable but ambitious timeline and leaves room for innovation in the oil and gas industry, incorporating key feedback received throughout the process,” said New Mexico Oil Conservation Division Director Adrienne Sandoval.

 

Other states have also implemented plans to cut methane emissions, including Colorado and Pennsylvania. The Trump administration, meanwhile, has reversed Obama-era regulations seeking to slash the emissions, calling them unnecessary and harmful to development.

Environmental groups welcomed the New Mexico proposal.

“Governor Lujan Grisham’s proposal is a critical step but loopholes for low producing wells must be closed to ensure we meet her commitment to create nation-leading methane waste and pollution rules,” said Barbara Webber, executive director of advocacy group Health Action New Mexico.

 

The New Mexico Oil and Gas Association did not say if it supported the proposals but said its members will continue providing technical expertise to the state.

New Mexico is seeking public comment on the proposal before finalizing it.

The Environmental Defense Fund said New Mexico’s drilling industry emits approximately a million metric tons of methane a year. That is the climate equivalent of 5.4 million cars, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.

[Old-Ruffneck + 1,177]

New Mexico has some folks in office that would shoot the golden goose. The amount of money from the Lea and Eddy counties inject into the state coffers is enormous. The Governor is just another puppet. If anyone should be bitching is the Panhandle of Texas as prevailing winds push it in their direction.

[Ward Smith + 6,615]

21 hours ago, ceo_energemsier said:

The Environmental Defense Fund said New Mexico’s drilling industry emits approximately a million metric tons of methane a year. That is the climate equivalent of 5.4 million cars, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.

Notice how the "environmental defense fund" makes the unsubstantiated claim, which is then bolstered by the EPA, which is not the source of the claim. Propaganda at its finest. 

CEO, thanks for actually posting about oil and gas on an oil and gas forum website. 

Edited July 23, 2020 by Ward Smith