EPA Eyes Drilling Methane Controls But Sees Limits For Oil Well Regulation

摘要

EPA is floating draft white papers that suggest first-time controls on methane emissions from several aspects of the oil and gas sector-including liquids unloading and compressors-could be workable, but it is reiterating major hurdles to requiring controls on oil wells and those that "co-produce" both oil and natural gas. The findings, outlined in the papers released April 15, are prompting cautious responses from environmentalists and industry sources. One environmentalist says the documents offer specifics on the potential for future emissions controls that are rarely seen outside of a formal rulemaking. Environmentalists have long called for EPA to strengthen its existing air rules for the oil and gas sector by including methane limits on all aspects, including oil wells.