Drilling Down on Methane Loss

A report by RMI analyzing oil and gas data in Texas finds that methane waste is significantly underreported, particularly through venting from low-production oil wells. The study estimates that actual gas waste for a 12-month period ending November 2024 could be up to 4.5 times higher than the 120 billion cubic feet (Bcf) self-reported by operators, resulting in an estimated 7.6 million metric tons of methane emissions.

• In Texas, self-reported gas waste for the 12 months ending November 2024 was approximately 120 billion cubic feet (Bcf), but analysis suggests the actual total may be as high as 551 Bcf, which is 3–4.5 times the reported amount.
• The discrepancy between reported and actual gas waste is primarily driven by underreported venting rather than flaring, as satellite monitoring (VIIRS) makes flaring harder to hide.
• Methane waste is significantly higher in oil-dominated wells compared to gas-dominated wells because associated gas is often treated as disposable when oil is the primary commodity.
• Low-producing oil wells are a major source of unreported methane waste; more than half of the wells producing below 10 barrels of oil per day (bopd) do not sell gas.
• The estimated 551 Bcf of wasted gas corresponds to 7.6 million metric tons of methane emissions, which is equivalent to the greenhouse gas emissions of 100 million light-duty vehicles in the US in 2024.
• Underreporting of gas waste leads to significant economic losses for the state of Texas; the study estimates lost tax revenue could be 3-4 times higher than official figures, potentially totaling a quarter of a billion dollars over two years.
• The report identifies a systemic reporting failure where more than a third of oil wells in Texas report oil production but zero associated gas production or disposal, which is geologically impossible.

APA

RMI (2026). Drilling Down on Methane Loss. https://rmi.org/resources/drilling-down-on-methane-loss/

Chicago

RMI. Drilling Down on Methane Loss. 2026. https://rmi.org/resources/drilling-down-on-methane-loss/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=RMI |title=Drilling Down on Methane Loss |date=16 March 2026 |url=https://rmi.org/resources/drilling-down-on-methane-loss/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{rmi2026drilling, author = {{RMI}}, title = {{Drilling Down on Methane Loss}}, institution = {RMI}, year = {2026}, month = mar, url = {https://rmi.org/resources/drilling-down-on-methane-loss/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }