The study calculates that these sites are spewing three times the amount of methane than previously estimated by the government, resulting in a staggering $9.3 billion in climate damage every year.

Lead author Evan Sherwin, an energy and policy analyst at the US Department of Energy's Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, highlights that more than half of these methane emissions originate from a mere 1% or less of oil and gas sites. This finding indicates that while the problem is worse than initially believed, it is also reasonably fixable with targeted efforts.

The issue of methane emissions is not limited to the United States alone. The International Energy Agency's Global Methane Tracker 2024 report reveals that globally, large methane emissions events detected by satellites have seen a 50% increase in 2023 compared to the previous year. The report also states that methane emissions worldwide rose slightly in 2023, reaching 120 million metric tons.

Sherwin emphasizes that the majority of fugitive emissions are generated throughout the entire oil and gas production and delivery system. This includes gas flaring, where natural gas is released into the air or burned instead of being captured during energy extraction. Substantial leaks are also observed in tanks, compressors, and pipelines.

The study, based on 1 million anonymized measurements taken from aircraft flying over 52% of American oil wells and 29% of gas production and delivery system sites over a decade, suggests that about 3% of the US gas produced is wasted and released into the atmosphere. This figure is significantly higher than the Environmental Protection Agency's estimate of 1%.

Methane, a potent heat-trapping gas, has a global warming potential that is approximately 80 times greater than carbon dioxide over a two-decade period. However, it only remains in the atmosphere for about a decade, unlike carbon dioxide, which can persist for hundreds of years.

The significance of methane emissions in climate change cannot be overstated. Christophe McGlade, head of the International Energy Agency energy supply unit, asserts that approximately 30% of the world's warming since preindustrial times can be attributed to methane emissions. Notably, the United States is the largest methane emitter in the oil and gas production sector, while China leads in methane pollution from coal.

In response to the alarming findings, the Biden administration implemented a new rule in December, mandating the US oil and natural gas industry to significantly reduce methane emissions. Similarly, 50 oil companies worldwide pledged at the United Nations climate negotiations in Dubai to achieve near-zero methane emissions and end routine flaring by 2030.

To address the issue effectively, monitoring methane emissions from above has become a growing trend. Recently, the MethaneSat observation satellite was launched into orbit by the Environmental Defense Fund and other organizations to closely monitor methane emissions.

Apart from the environmental impact, the study by Sherwin estimates that the lost methane is valuable, with an approximate worth of $1 billion per year.

As the urgency to combat climate change intensifies, tackling methane emissions from oil and gas operations becomes a critical priority. The study's findings highlight the need for targeted interventions at high-emitting sites to curb methane pollution significantly and mitigate its detrimental effects on the environment.