Technology exists to stop methane leaks

Gas drilling need not be dangerous to the environment, as there is technology out there that can ensure that methane leaks and pollution is kept to a minimum.

A report by Associated Press found that although the means to keep gas drilling safe is out there, the industry is expanding so rapidly that many firms and regulators find it difficult to get ahead of any issues, which could end up costing the industry a great deal of money to sort out.

The concern is that methane is a much more effective greenhouse gas at trapping heat in the atmosphere than CO2, which could have a large impact on climate change if there were any large scale leaks.

Yet, on the other hand, gas is a much cleaner form of fuel than coal-fired energy.

The technology for keeping gas drilling safe can be as simple as fixing broken seals or gaskets, but also as complex as spending millions of dollars on new constructions.

Al Gore explained to the Associated Press that for gas companies, safe procedures have a twofold benefit. If they catch leaking methane they are able to sell this on, which gives them an economic incentive.

Another concern is the industry practice of burning off gas that seeps out of the ground as a by-product of oil drilling. The US has been increasingly doing this and many firms are not taking steps to capture the gas, rather than flaring it, because there is so much more money in the oil.

Mike Honeycutt, director of toxicology for the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality explained to Associated Press that regulators have insisted on using cameras to find pollution sources in the state.

Inspectors are able to monitor sites much better and, as a result, the drilling area surrounding Fort Worth has had summer ozone levels fall.

In the state, drilling has been increasing in recent months, with reports from the Railroad Commission showing that there were 1,873 drilling permits in October, an increase of 233 from the previous month.

Claire Manning