How large are methane emissions from the upstream oil and gas industry and why are they there? Evidence from Colorado
Ludovica Gazze, University of Warwick, https://sites.google.com/view/ludovicagazze,
Methane emissions contribute to climate change. Because methane is a valuable output of the oil and gas production industry, reducing fugitive emissions can deliver private and social benefits. Partnering with the Colorado air quality regulator, we measured methane emissions from 10% of oil and gas production facilities in the Denver-Julesburg basin over two years. We experimentally varied facilities’ abatement costs, by providing information about ex-ante leak risk, and regulatory scrutiny, by increasing the chance of inspections. These facilities’ emissions comprise only 0.02% of their production. Reducing the costs of finding emissions appears more effective than increasing regulatory scrutiny.
Wednesday, December 4, 2024, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM.
De La Salle Hall, Room 300 (Capalbo Room).