Satellite Study Found U.S. Methane Emissions Underreported
Oil and gas operators face new scrutiny as satellite data revealed emissions were 64% higher than official EPA figures.
Updated on Sept. 21, 2026 in Oil and Gas
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A study conducted between January and June 2025 identified 1,097 methane plumes across major basins, suggesting actual industry emissions are 64% higher than reported to the EPA. The analysis pinpointed individual facilities contributing to these significant releases.
Why it matters
The gap between satellite-detected plumes and federal filings signals potential compliance risks for operators as monitoring technology improves. Businesses must evaluate their own leakage detection protocols to prepare for potential future regulatory penalties.
Researchers attributed 75 plumes to Energy Transfer, which operated four of the 15 worst-performing sites. The studied basins, which represent two-thirds of total U.S. gas production, show significant discrepancies between satellite detections and official data.
The players
Energy Transfer
A major midstream energy company that operates gas processing and pipeline infrastructure across multiple U.S. basins.
Environmental Protection Agency
The federal regulatory body responsible for environmental standards and the collection of industry emission reports.
The details
Using imagery from the Tanager-1 satellite, researchers mapped emission events across the Permian, Appalachian, and Haynesville-Bossier basins. By comparing plume concentrations against established EPA super-emitter thresholds, the study highlighted significant site-specific leakage. A single Energy Transfer gas processing facility near Shreveport, Louisiana, was found to emit 1.56 tonnes of methane per hour during the observation period.
Timeline
The study analyzed oil and gas activity from January 2025 through June 2025.
Market Landscape
This data suggests a material shift in how environmental compliance is monitored compared to the EPA's Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program. It follows a growing trend of using third-party satellite surveillance to challenge industry-reported figures.
Operators should anticipate increased pressure to adopt advanced monitoring technology as external satellite data becomes a new benchmark for emission accuracy. Review internal leak detection and repair protocols, as federal regulatory frameworks may soon move to penalize these releases.
The takeaway
Operators must assume that remote sensing will continue to expose discrepancies between internal reporting and actual site emissions. Track your facility's plume profile and evaluate whether existing mitigation schedules align with the scrutiny of the current regulatory climate.
Further reading
For more on industry compliance and infrastructure performance, see Oil and Gas.
Source note: This article includes information reported by RocketNews.
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