Hydraulic fracturing: Methane emissions during process has been reduced, but gas leaking in other ways

Study: Progress made on methane capture

Industry efforts to reduce methane emissions during hydraulic fracturing have been successful, but equipment leaks and compressors at drilling sites are releasing more of the gas than previously thought, a new study has concluded.

16 September 2013 23:01 GMT Updated 16 September 2013 23:01 GMT

By Kathrine Schmidt

Scientists surveyed 190 drilling sites to conclude that equipment used during fracking has curbed methane releases to 97% of 2011 estimates from the US Environmental Protection Agency.

That is according to findings from the University of Texas at Austin’s Cockrell School of Engineering and environmental testing firms URS and Aerodyne Research released today in the Proceedings of the National Academies of Sciences.

The

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Study: Progress made on methane capture