FLARINGAERIAL SURVEY RESULTS
The wasteful practice of burning away gas has long been a problem in the oilfield. Data shows that companies in the Permian Basin burned away roughly 1 trillion cubic feet of gas since 2013.While this waste problem has been well documented, much less has been known about methane emissions from flares.EDF has now conducted four surveys of over a thousand flare stacks across the basin, from February to November 2020, which reveal methane emissions from flaring are a significant and widespread problem.In each survey, we found that 10% of flares were either unlit—venting completely uncombusted methane directly to the atmosphere—or burning only part of the gas they were releasing.Although there was a large decrease in the volume of gas flared in late spring, due to the drop in production, there was no change in observed flare performance. We estimate at least 7% of Permian gas sent to flares is escaping directly into the atmosphere. This means companies are emitting 3.5 times more methane than what EPA assumes.At this rate, flaring can now be considered one of the largest sources of methane emissions in the Permian basin.Our surveys indicate that in order to reduce emissions across the basin, flaring must be reduced to the lowest levels possible. With flaring volumes starting to increase again, there is an urgency to address flaring now.
FLARING STUDY RESULTS
Our research indicates flares often malfunction, making flaring one of the largest sources of methane emissions in the basin.
THERE ARE TWO MAIN CULPRITS
10 PERCENT
of flares surveyed
were malfunctioning.
Including 5% of
flares that were
completely unlit.
THERE ARE TWO MAIN CULPRITS
TOTAL METRIC TONS OF METHANE EMISSIONS FROM FLARING
(EDF Assessment based on VIIRS satellite data)
(EDF Assessment based on VIIRS satellite data)
*EPA assumes functioning flares have 98% flaring efficiency rate
WHERE WE STUDIED
We studied 1,200 flares through aerial surveillance in New Mexico and Texas. Throughout 2020 we conducted 4 random surveys of flares in various areas, and 3 repeat surveys of flares in one specific area.
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