MethaneSAT Data Shows Oil and Gas Methane Pollution Far Worse Than Reported

Methane is a fast acting climate pollutant, and the new numbers are ugly. According to Inside Climate News, an early MethaneSAT assessment suggests oil and gas basins are releasing methane at levels well above official inventories.

MethaneSAT was built to bring real world accountability from orbit. EDF researchers lost contact with the 88 million dollar satellite after about a year, but they downloaded a large dataset first. The initial review covers 45 producing regions, representing about half of global onshore oil and gas output, with measurements from May 2024 to June 2025.

On average, methane emissions were about 50 percent higher than official estimates. The Permian Basin stood out, with an estimated 410 metric tons per hour. Emissions also varied wildly by region, from under 1 percent of marketed gas in parts of Appalachia to more than 20 percent in Iraq’s Widyan Basin.

That matters because methane traps heat quickly, pushing the environment toward more extreme fires, floods, and crop stress. It also hits local air quality, which links directly to health for frontline communities. The report also points to a “super emitter” pattern, where a small share of wells can drive a large share of emissions, often from older, leakier sites.

Strong rules can help. New Mexico adopted methane regulations in 2021 and has a goal to capture 98 percent of natural gas by the end of 2026, while Texas has not matched that approach.

If we are serious about the planet, we should demand tougher methane limits, cleaner energy, and a more plant based food system that protects wildlife too.

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