Methane emissions cut in half, but leakage rates remain high.
Methane emissions from oil and gas production in Utah's Uinta Basin decreased by half from 2015 to 2020, even as gas production declined. However, the percentage of methane emissions relative to gas production remained steady at around 6-8%, one of the highest rates in the U.S. This suggests that while overall emissions are decreasing, the proportion of methane leaked during production has not changed significantly. Reducing these leaks and capturing more natural gas is crucial for the U.S. to combat climate change by cutting greenhouse gas emissions.