American Gas - August 2012 - (Page 5)

industrynews PEOPLE TRENDS EVENTS HYDRAULIC FRACTURING Studies Question EPA Estimates, Earthquake Risk ENVIRONMENTAL RISKS from natural gas operations may be lower than some critics have asserted, two recent studies indicate. A report commissioned by America’s Natural Gas Alliance and the American Petroleum Institute found that greenhouse gas emissions from gas production are as much as 50 percent lower than figures used by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (see chart, page 7). And the National Research Council, part of the National Academies, concluded that hydraulic fracturing poses a low risk for causing earthquakes. The API/ANGA report, released June 4, analyzes more than 91,000 natural gas wells operating across diverse geographical regions and representing nearly 20 percent of all natural gas–producing wells in the United States. The sample size is more than 10 times greater than that used by EPA in estimating methane emissions from gas operations, the study said. The study, conducted by URS Corp. and the Levon Group, found two key differences between the data obtained in the study and EPA’s data • Methane emissions from liquids unloading—a technique that removes water and other liquids from the well bore to improve gas flow—are 86 percent lower than EPA estimates. • Methane emissions from refractured wells are 72 percent lower than EPA estimates. “The EPA has been upfront that its data is limited in scope,” said Tom Amontree, ANGA executive vice president. “This study confirms that the EPA’s estimates on emissions from operations are vastly exaggerated.” The NRC study, released June 15, said that the process of hydraulic fracturing a well “as presently implemented for shale gas recovery does not pose a high risk for felt seismic events.” In addition, the majority of wells created to dispose of wastewater from oil and gas production, including shale gas recovery, do not pose a significant ABILENE REPORTER-NEWS AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2012 AMERICAN GAS 5

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of American Gas - August 2012

American Gas - August 2012
Contents
President’s Message
Industry News
In the Know
Safety First
Tech Talk
Taming the Talent Pipeline
Decision Time
Places to Be
Vendor News
Noteworthies
Advertisers’ Index
Jobline
Marketplace
Facts on Gas

American Gas - August 2012