Methane

Methane is a greenhouse gas, emitted both by natural sources and from human activity. Methane is also the largest component of natural gas, the product that companies sell. Operators have every incentive to capture and sell as much of this product as possible to American consumers, rather than letting it escape into the atmosphere. And independent oil and natural gas producers have made great strides in reducing our carbon footprint by cutting emissions without raising energy costs.

In fact, the United States leads the world in the reduction of carbon emissions, even as the production of U.S. oil and natural gas continues to increase. Our success in lowering carbon emissions in the United States is not because of additional regulations, but because of the increased use of clean-burning natural gas.

Check out IPAA’s latest fact sheets, EPA Methane Regulation and Low Production Wells and Natural Gas & Oil Production Methane Emissions Management.

IPAA endorses The Environmental Partnership, a voluntary program comprised of companies in the U.S. oil and natural gas industry committed to continuously improving the industry’s environmental performance. It includes companies of all sizes, including many of the country’s major oil and natural gas producers. Learn more about the program at www.theenvironmentalpartnership.org.

Fact Sheets

IPAA does not question the need to cost effectively manage industry emissions.
Independent producers recognize the importance of environmentally sound regulations to manage their emissions.
IPAA supports voluntary efforts by industry to reduce methane emissions, like the Environmental Partnership. Our members are making constant improvements to the technology being used in the field to reduce, measure and report on emissions.