Reducing Methane from Oil and Gas

The Clean Air Task Force proposes a set of regulatory measures to reduce U.S. oil and gas methane emissions by 65% relative to 2012 levels by 2025. The plan focuses on seven key areas: frequent leak detection and repair (LDAR), replacing gas-driven pneumatic equipment with non-emitting alternatives, controlling storage tank emissions, minimizing well completion emissions, regulating compressors and dehydrators, reducing oil well venting and flaring, and minimizing maintenance venting. The analysis suggests these measures would reduce 2025 emissions by 7.8 million metric tons of methane compared to current policies, equivalent to 680 million metric tons of CO2-equivalent over a 20-year horizon.

• Implementing ambitious regulations could reduce methane emissions in 2025 from the oil and gas sector to at least 65% below 2012 levels, resulting in a reduction of 7.8 million metric tons of methane compared to current policies.
• Frequent Leak Detection and Repair (LDAR) is identified as the most critical element of an emissions reduction program because leaks and 'super-emitters'—large, infrequent emissions events—account for more than half of the industry's total emissions.
• Gas-driven pneumatic equipment, which emits over two million metric tons of methane annually, can be virtually eliminated by replacing it with electric controllers and pumps (including solar-powered options) or compressed air systems.
• The document projects that if current federal and state regulations remain unchanged, 2025 emissions will be approximately 12 million metric tons of methane, which is roughly equal to 2012 levels.
• A less ambitious regulatory path, such as implementing nationwide existing source standards based on the 2016 NSPS OOOOa, would only reduce 2025 emissions by 22% compared to 2012 levels, leaving emissions five million metric tons higher than the proposed 65% reduction plan.

APA

Clean Air Task Force (2020). Reducing Methane from Oil and Gas. https://www.catf.us/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Path_to_65pc_OG_reduction-Dec2020_update.pdf

Chicago

Clean Air Task Force. Reducing Methane from Oil and Gas. 2020. https://www.catf.us/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Path_to_65pc_OG_reduction-Dec2020_update.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Clean Air Task Force |title=Reducing Methane from Oil and Gas |date=December 2020 |url=https://www.catf.us/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Path_to_65pc_OG_reduction-Dec2020_update.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{cleanairtaskforce2020reducing, author = {{Clean Air Task Force}}, title = {{Reducing Methane from Oil and Gas}}, institution = {Clean Air Task Force}, year = {2020}, month = dec, url = {https://www.catf.us/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Path_to_65pc_OG_reduction-Dec2020_update.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }