Centre for Policy Studies Says Methane Leakage In Shale ‘Seriously Over-Estimated’

The UK-based Centre for Policy Studies released a report claiming that previous estimates of methane leakage in shale gas production have been seriously over-estimated. This comes a few hours before the Tory Government is expected to try to revise the rules for fracking in drinking water production zones, key wildlife sites and national parks. 

‘The threat of fugitive methane is low, and could be made even lower by addressing the small number of super emitters, primarily through regulations that require industry best practice at all wells. Because of the short 8.6-year half-life of methane in the atmosphere, the legacy danger of fugitive methane is tiny’ read the conclusions of the report released by the British think-tank on Monday. 

According to the London-based organisation, gas is more environmentally friendly than coal, unless over a 100 year time span, ‘an implausible 12% of the produced natural gas used today would have to leak.’

The two researchers - Elizabeth and Richard Muller - said that the current estimate for the average leakage across the whole supply chain are below 3%. 

Methane has a high greenhouse potential. 

Meanwhile, Labour politicians are expressing their opposition to a change in the current rules for fracking in the UK. 

‘On Tuesday, in a committee room in the House of Commons, the government will try to sneak through fracking regulations that are totally inadequate, completing their u-turn’ Lisa Nandy and Kerry McCarthy wrote in a letter to The Guardian.

The two British politicians said that if the regulations are voted through on Tuesday, companies would be allowed to drill for shale gas in drinking water protection zones and important wildlife sites, and other heritage sites across the country.