Study finds oilpatch methane emissions higher than thought

Emissions of a potent greenhouse gas from Canada’s oilpatch are nearly twice as high as previously thought, says newly published federal research.

The findings on methane from Environment Canada researchers could complicate regulatory attempts to nearly halve releases over the next five years, says an environmental group.

“That target will not be met unless the regulations are significantly strengthened,” said Dale Marshall of Environmental Defence.

Methane is released from oil and gas infrastructure such as pumps, pipelines and valves during everyday operations. Its effects in climate change are about 30 times more powerful than carbon dioxide and both industry and government have been working to keep it contained.

How much methane is being released has been contentious.

Current estimates are based on the difference between how much methane enters oilpatch infrastructure and how much is left at the other end. In a paper published in the journal Environmental Science and Technology, Environment Canada scientists instead used actual measurements of methane in the atmosphere.

Eight years worth of data from four points in Alberta and Saskatchewan show the previous total of 1.6 megatonnes is an underestimate. The study found three megatonnes.

“It’s off by a lot,” said lead author Doug Worthy. “It’s almost twofold.”

The study doesn’t specifically address where the unreported methane is coming from. Worthy said there’s likely to be a wide range of sources and amounts.

“There might be known, unreported emissions or emissions (industry) doesn’t have to report.”