The airplane was able to cover 100 times more sites. In the New Mexico section of the basin, the plane flew over active wells and discovered 1,985 methane plumes over the course of 15 months.
The survey found higher levels of methane leak than expected, as well as a few mega-emitting sites. The plane detected just a small percentage of the emissions.
There are calls for tougher methane regulations on oil and gas producers. Oil production was increasing quickly and the regulations in the area were not as strict as they are today. New Mexico recently passed a law banning flaring. Jon Goldstein, a senior policy director at the Environmental Defense Fund, says that stronger federal policies are needed to cut emissions in oil-rich states.
The new findings show how comprehensive surveys can shed light on methane emissions, which are often poorly understood even in major oil and gas basins. Identifying problem spots can be a useful first step as governments continue to target emissions.
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