The New York Times reports that tapping America’s enormous reserves of shale gas “appears to cause smaller leaks of the greenhouse gas methane than the federal government had estimated.” The news was hailed by those keen on developing America’s abundant energy resources.
According to The Times, the study “bolsters the contention by advocates of fracking — and some environmental groups as well — that shale gas is cleaner and better than coal, at least until more renewable-energy sources are developed. More than 500 wells were analyzed.”
In an article titled “Gas Leaks in Fracking Disputed in Study,” The Times indicated that a peer-reviewed study conducted by the University of Texas and sponsored by the Environmental Defense Fund proved that while the total amount of escaped methane from shale-gas operations was substantial — more than one million tons annually — it was probably less than the Environmental Protection Agency estimated in 2011.
In particular, [the study] indicated that containment measures captured 99 percent of methane that escaped from new wells being prepared for production, a process known as completion.
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