The DeSmog investigation caused quite a stir including an international investigation into BC and Canada's carbon emissions which said in its conclusions, "Canada appears to have vastly underestimated fugitive emissions from gas exploration in British Colombia, putting into question its entire emissions reporting on fugitives." according to the Climate Action Tracker. In reality, actual measurements of the amount of methane escaping gas fields and pipelines in BC and Canada by the industry are rare and none are done by the the various Federal or Provincial Ministries because they'd only create bad news headlines and would make the bogus understatements by 'authorities' impossible in the future. Accordingly DeSmog's investigation was met with scorn by government spokespeople. Nonetheless, Stephen Leahy's well documented article contains numerous links to the unassailable truths that support DeSmog.
Most recently a new study, 'Methane Leakage from North American Natural Gas Systems' by researchers at Stanford University.confirms that Methane emissions are worse than the conventional wisdom would have you believe. The key take-away from the study: the EPA is likely underestimating U.S. methane emissions from natural gas by at least 50% or more. The researchers concluded that the argument that industrial-scale use of natural gas to replace coal had an advantage now has been blown out of the water.
Recent in-field measurements at two different locations in Colorado and Utah found methane leakage ranging from 4% to 9% according to a report in the science journal Nature. These numbers and others wherever measurements are taken by independent researchers are significant because most of BC's natural gas comes from unconventional fields requiring extensive hydraulic fracturing [fracking]. Natural gas only has a lower footprint than coal in energy systems where the methane leakage rate from wells, pipelines, gas plants and infrastructure is 3.2 per cent or less.
Notice too how even these numbers don't consider the huge fugitive emissions coming from the general area surrounding the fracking plays caused by the geologic disturbance that creates pathways to other wells [including drinking water], the atmosphere and groundwater. These numbers are even harder to discern because they are widespread leakage not just leakage from the hardware itself but beyond a doubt they'll only heap on more reasons why oil and gas mined by hydraulic fracturing are dirtier than coal of tar sands crud in terms of GHG emissions.
Another important study, this one by Prof. Howarth, Prof. Ingraffea, and Rene Santoro of Cornell University, led to an excellent series of articles Andrew Nikiforuk at the Tyee. Please read through Nikiforuk's articles as each of them covers the details of this important issue. IMO, the self-interest of the executives and shareholders along with the bought and paid for politicians and media are a crime that proves beyond a doubt we are living in a corporatacy. These people are criminals, they are stealing the health and welfare of our children and grandchildren. They should be arrested, prosecuted and jailed, instead they live lionized lives of luxury paid for by the rest of us.
'Shale Gas: How Often Do Fracked Wells Leak?' When industry says hardly ever, that's a myth. It's a documented, chronic problem.
'Shale Gas Plagued By Unusual Methane Leaks' Scientists investigate high levels of damaging gas released in fracked areas.
'Natural Gas Is a Bridge to Nowhere': Recent studies by Cornell methane experts have found leakage rates of four per cent in an unconventional gas field in Colorado, and nine per cent in a Utah shale gas field. Most of BC's natural gas comes from unconventional fields requiring extensive hydraulic fracturing. Natural gas only has a lower footprint than coal in energy systems where the methane leakage rate from wells, pipelines, gas plants and infrastructure is 3.2 per cent or less.
Canada's 500,000 Leaky Energy Wells: 'Threat to Public' Badly sealed oil and gas wellbores leak emissions barely monitored, experts find.
