This study calculates flare efficiency by using airborne sampling across three U.S. basins that are responsible for more than 80% of the country’s flaring emissions. The findings reveal that both unlit flares and inefficient combustion contribute significantly to ineffective methane destruction. Specifically, flares are only effective in destroying 91.1% of methane, which is much lower than previously assumed. This inefficiency leads to a fivefold increase in methane emissions compared to current assumptions, contributing to 4–10% of total U.S. oil and gas methane emissions. This highlights a previously underappreciated source of methane emissions and presents a significant opportunity for mitigation efforts.
Inefficient and unlit natural gas flares both emit large quantities of methane
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Region
US
Published
2022
Resource Type
Research article
Category
Methane abatement strategies
More info
Sub-Category
Measurement informed strategies
Segment
N/A
Equipment
Flares
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