A satellite company focused on monitoring methane emissions—one of seemingly numerous companies springing up and sharing its findings with the world—detected the smallest burst of methane ever seen from space. Whereas so many incidents of methane plumes observed by satellite deal in the metric tons of the stuff emitted per hour, GHGSat observed methane emitted from an oil and gas platform off the Louisiana coast in the Gulf of Mexico measuring just 1,500 kg/hr. This was detected last month and it’s the first time GHGSat has seen smaller methane emissions come from oil and gas rigs in the Gulf.
A prior observance saw methane emitted last year and then again last month from one single oil and gas platform at a rate of 99,000 kg/hr. According to the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, the Gulf alone is responsible for 97% of the United States’ offshore oil and gas generation. And every burst of methane adds up. GHGSat notes that “ultra-emitters” are much less prevalent than fossil fuel companies emitting much smaller levels of methane. Thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), those emissions are going to cost polluters significantly so long as they’re held accountable.
Campaign Action
Come 2026, the IRA will penalize companies for methane emissions at a rate of $900 per ton. That rate will increase to $1,500 per ton after two years. Billions could be raised in the process, but much more should be done to ensure the U.S. is meeting its net-zero goals. This is where satellite companies come into play.
Methane emissions are harming the planet no matter how small.
With advancements in satellite detection and the IRA establishing a two-year timeline for the Environmental Protection Agency to come up with an emissions monitoring and reporting structure, there’s legitimate reason to be hopeful. Antoine Rostand, the president and founder of the energy and environmental analytics company Kayrros, agrees. Kayrros also uses satellites to detect methane emissions and I can say personally the company’s work has been critical to my own reporting on emissions.
“Methane is becoming recognized for the threat it is to the environment. It has more than 80 times the warming power of carbon dioxide over the first 20 years after it reaches the atmosphere and is one of the most pressing targets for emissions reductions,” Rostand said in a statement, adding that fines are just one component in battling the climate crisis.
“To safeguard their future, industry leaders and regulators will need to adopt new technologies in order to de-risk energy portfolios and ensure a degree of emissions transparency that allows companies to comply with the regulation quickly and responsibly,” Rostand said. “Fines are seen as the unpalatable medicine cure, whereas companies need to start adopting preventative measures to manage and assess their methane emissions.”
A prior observance saw methane emitted last year and then again last month from one single oil and gas platform at a rate of 99,000 kg/hr. According to the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, the Gulf alone is responsible for 97% of the United States’ offshore oil and gas generation. And every burst of methane adds up. GHGSat notes that “ultra-emitters” are much less prevalent than fossil fuel companies emitting much smaller levels of methane. Thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), those emissions are going to cost polluters significantly so long as they’re held accountable.
Campaign Action
Come 2026, the IRA will penalize companies for methane emissions at a rate of $900 per ton. That rate will increase to $1,500 per ton after two years. Billions could be raised in the process, but much more should be done to ensure the U.S. is meeting its net-zero goals. This is where satellite companies come into play.
Methane emissions are harming the planet no matter how small.
With advancements in satellite detection and the IRA establishing a two-year timeline for the Environmental Protection Agency to come up with an emissions monitoring and reporting structure, there’s legitimate reason to be hopeful. Antoine Rostand, the president and founder of the energy and environmental analytics company Kayrros, agrees. Kayrros also uses satellites to detect methane emissions and I can say personally the company’s work has been critical to my own reporting on emissions.
“Methane is becoming recognized for the threat it is to the environment. It has more than 80 times the warming power of carbon dioxide over the first 20 years after it reaches the atmosphere and is one of the most pressing targets for emissions reductions,” Rostand said in a statement, adding that fines are just one component in battling the climate crisis.
“To safeguard their future, industry leaders and regulators will need to adopt new technologies in order to de-risk energy portfolios and ensure a degree of emissions transparency that allows companies to comply with the regulation quickly and responsibly,” Rostand said. “Fines are seen as the unpalatable medicine cure, whereas companies need to start adopting preventative measures to manage and assess their methane emissions.”