Theoretically this means that methane released into the atmosphere through natural gas exploration could be a contributing factor to global warming.
For this reason, climate change alarmists have been extremely interested in measuring the amount of methane released into the air, and several studies have contended that alarming amounts of methane are being pumped into the atmosphere through oil and gas exploration. In fact, based on these studies, experts have claimed that 25 percent of “man-made” global warming is directly attributable to this process. It is important to note, however, that these studies have not been based on physical measurements, but on mathematical projections.
Now, as reported by Big League Politics, a study conducted by researchers from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the University of Colorado Boulder, based on physical measurements of methane levels in the atmosphere, has found that despite large increases in energy production over the past 10 years, methane emissions from drilling have increased only very slightly.
To reach their conclusions, the team analyzed physical methane (CH4) measurements taken in 20 different locations in North America, as recorded by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Global Greenhouse Gas Reference Network. They then used these measurements to determine the overall trend for the period 2006 to 2015.
Their conclusion? The study introduction notes: "We find no significant increase in emissions at most sites and modest increases at three sites heavily influenced by ONG activities. Our estimated increases in North American ONG CH4 emissions (on average approximately 3.4 ± 1.4 %/year for 2006–2015, ±?) are much smaller than estimates from some previous studies and below our detection threshold for total emissions increases at the east coast sites that are sensitive to U.S. outflows. We also find an increasing trend in ethane/methane emission ratios, which has resulted in major overestimation of oil and gas emissions trends in some previous studies"....read more>>>...