Impact of Gas Flaring on Climate Underestimated

Flaring natural gas releases five times more methane, a powerful greenhouse gas, than previously estimated.

Share:

Natural gas flaring, which involves burning excess gas from oil and gas wells, releases five times more methane, a potent greenhouse gas, than previously estimated, according to a study published Thursday in Science.

As a result, the practice has a much greater impact on climate change, with the potential for warming between the reported and actual flaring of natural gas across the United States equivalent to introducing an additional 2.9 million cars each year, says the
scientific document.

A research team led by Genevieve Plant at the University of Michigan collected air samples from two sedimentary basins located in Texas, the Permian Basin and the Eagle Ford Shale, and around the Bakken Formation – a geological formation rich in oil and gas – straddling the states of North Dakota and Montana.

These areas alone account for 80% of U.S. natural gas flaring activity.

“We used a small plane equipped with extremely sensitive probes that measure the concentration of methane and carbon dioxide downwind of the flares,” the research director told AFP.

“During this aerial study, we collected approximately 300 separate air samples from flare columns in areas that rely most heavily on natural gas flaring in the United States.”

The fossil fuel industry and the U.S. government assume that constantly burning flares destroy methane, the main component of natural gas, with 98% efficiency.

However, the study contradicts this rate and establishes it at 91.1%, i.e. methane emissions in the United States five times higher than the officially published data.

– Impact on health –

When Genevieve Plant’s research team looked further into these numbers, they realized that while most flares were operating at 98% efficiency, other flare columns showing signs of wear and tear were operating at 60% efficiency, not to mention the 3-5% of flares that were extinguished and emitting unburned gas into the atmosphere.

Gas flaring is essentially a loss-making activity since the natural gas flared is not associated with any productive process.

The World Bank estimates that with the gas flared each year – 144 billion cubic meters – it would be possible to supply all of sub-Saharan Africa with energy.

Plant says there are several ways to mitigate the effects of this method. These include reducing the volume of flaring activity, increasing the efficiency of flares, and storing and reusing the gas to power other equipment.

In a paper attached to the study, two authors, Riley Duren and Deborah Gordon, explain that the gas flaring activity is having a negative impact on the health of the half million people who live within a 3-mile radius of the three affected basins.

“Unfired and partially combusted flares may expose frontline populations to a mixture of associated pollutants that pose risks of acute and/or chronic health effects,” the authors explained.

Methane is a potent greenhouse gas, with more than 80 times the global warming power of carbon dioxide in the first 20 years of its entry into the atmosphere, although carbon dioxide has a longer lasting influence.

This is why more than 120 countries have signed a global agreement, the Global Methane Pledge, to reduce emissions by 30% by 2030.

Solar power generation increased sharply in the United States in June, significantly reducing natural gas consumption in the power sector, despite relatively stable overall electricity demand.
Golden Pass LNG, jointly owned by Exxon Mobil and QatarEnergy, has asked US authorities for permission to re-export liquefied natural gas starting October 1, anticipating the imminent launch of its operations in Texas.
Delfin Midstream reserves gas turbine manufacturing capacity with Siemens Energy and initiates an early works programme with Samsung Heavy Industries, ahead of its anticipated final investment decision in the autumn.
Norwegian group DNO ASA signs gas offtake contract with ENGIE and secures USD 500 million financing from a major US bank to guarantee future revenues from its Norwegian gas production.
Golar LNG Limited has completed a private placement of $575mn in convertible bonds due in 2030, using part of the proceeds to repurchase and cancel 2.5 million of its own common shares, thus reducing its share capital.
Shell Canada Energy announces shipment of the first liquefied natural gas cargo from its LNG Canada complex, located in Kitimat, British Columbia, primarily targeting fast-growing Asian economic and energy markets.
The Australian government is considering the establishment of an east coast gas reservation as part of a sweeping review of market rules to ensure supply, with risks of shortages signalled by 2028.
The increase in oil drilling, deepwater exploration, and chemical advances are expected to raise the global drilling fluids market to $10.7bn by 2032, according to Meticulous Research.
The small-scale liquefied natural gas market is forecast to grow at an annual rate of 7.5%, reaching an estimated total value of $31.78bn by 2030, driven particularly by maritime and heavy-duty road transport sectors.
The European Union extends gas storage regulations by two years, requiring member states to maintain a minimum fill rate of 90% to ensure energy security and economic stability amid market uncertainties.
Energy Transfer strengthens its partnership with Chevron by increasing their liquefied natural gas supply agreement by 50% from the upcoming Lake Charles LNG export terminal, strategically aiming for long-term supply security.
Woodside finalises the divestment of a 40% stake in the Louisiana LNG project to Stonepeak, injecting $5.7 billion to accelerate developments and optimise financial returns ahead of first gas delivery scheduled in 2026.
Keranic Industrial Gas seals a sixty-day exclusivity deal to buy Royal Helium’s key assets, raise CAD9.5mn ($7.0mn) and bring Alberta’s Steveville plant back online in under fifteen weeks.
The Irish-Portuguese company Fusion Fuel strengthens its footprint in the United Arab Emirates as subsidiary Al Shola Gas adds AED4.4 mn ($1.2 mn) in new engineering contracts, consolidating an already robust 2025 order book.
Cheniere Energy validates major investment to expand Corpus Christi terminal, adding two liquefaction units to increase its liquefied natural gas export capacity by 2029, responding to recent international agreements.
A study by the International Energy Agency reveals that global emissions from liquefied natural gas could be significantly reduced using current technologies.
Europe is injecting natural gas into underground storage facilities at a three-year high, even as reserves remain below historical averages, prompting maximized imports of liquefied natural gas (LNG).
South Korea abandons plans to lower electricity rates this summer, fearing disruptions in liquefied natural gas supply due to escalating geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, despite recent declines in fuel import costs.
Russia positions itself to supply liquefied natural gas to Mexico and considers expanded technological sharing in the energy sector, according to Russian Energy Minister Sergey Tsivilyov.
Israel has partially resumed its natural gas exports to Egypt and Jordan following a week-long halt due to the closure of two major offshore gas fields, Leviathan and Karish.