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Appalachian Methane Initiative's Groundbreaking Findings

The Appalachian Methane Initiative (AMI), a coalition of leading U.S. natural gas companies, recently unveiled the results of its extensive methane monitoring program conducted across the Appalachian Basin. This report signifies a crucial step towards understanding and reducing methane emissions in one of the most pivotal natural gas-producing regions in the United States.

Overview of the Study

Conducted in collaboration with reputable organizations like the Energy Emissions Modeling and Data Lab (EEMDL) and SLR International, the 2024 methane monitoring program notably expanded from last year’s pilot project. Over 15,000 aerial surveys covered an impressive area of approximately 20,500 square miles, aiming to accurately measure emissions from various sources, including oil and gas operations, coal mines, and landfills.

Key Findings

The report presents several significant findings about methane emissions in the Appalachian Basin:

• - Lowest Methane Emissions Intensity: The Appalachian Basin recorded the lowest emissions intensity of any major oil and gas-producing basin in the U.S., with methane emission rates measured under 0.1%. This is particularly impressive when juxtaposed against other prominent gas-producing regions.
• - Impact of Coal Emissions: Surprisingly, coal mines emerged as a disproportionately large contributor to methane emissions, averaging 450 kg/hr per site, which starkly exceeds emissions from oil and gas operations, highlighting the need to address emissions from this sector as well.
• - Source of Large Emission Events: Aerial surveys indicated that coal mines were also responsible for the majority of significant emissions events, particularly those exceeding 100 kg/hr.
• - Consistency Across Sources: The study revealed no noteworthy differences in emission sizes between AMI-affiliated and non-affiliated oil and gas sources, which underscores the reliability of AMI's monitoring approaches in reflecting the overall emissions profile of the Appalachian Basin.

Looking Ahead

The AMI is committed to fostering greater transparency and achieving real emissions reductions in the natural gas sector. Plans for 2025 outline an ambitious expansion, including:

• - Monitoring over 32,000 square miles of the Basin, encompassing facilities with production capacities totaling 34.88 bcf/d, marking nearly a sixfold increase in volume compared to the inaugural program.
• - An increase in the number of oil and gas sites monitored to over 6,700, up from about 6,200.
• - Enhanced monitoring efforts for non-oil and gas sites, such as coal mines and landfills, increasing to approximately 230 from 181.

Such initiatives reflect the AMI's goal to standardize emissions accountability while paving the way for innovative solutions geared towards methane mitigation.