Low-producing oil and gas wells might make up a small portion of New Mexico’s fossil fuel output, but could have a large impact on air pollution, per a recent study from the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF).
Published in the journal Nature Communications, the study included research of low-producing or “stripper wells” in the Permian and other major oil and gas regions in the U.S.
The wells, defined as producing less than 15 barrels of oil per day, contributed just 6 percent of U.S. oil and gas production, but accounted for about half of U.S. methane emissions, the study read.
Research showed stripper wells throughout the U.S. emit methane at about 6-12 time the national average.
They release about 10 percent of their produced gas into the air – about 4 million metric tons leaked a year.
EDF scientist and the study’s author Mark Omara said that’s the equivalent of emissions from 88 coal-fired power plants.
“The methane footprint of these small wells is enormous and can’t be ignored,” Omara said.
Read more here: https://www.ruidosonews.com/story/news/2022/04/23/low-producing-oil-wells-impact-new-mexico-air-pollution-permian-basin-stripper-environment/7383809001/
By: Adrian Hedden
