Ohio Methane Leak – One of the Largest Ever Observed

Here are parts of the article on Cleveland.com.

BELMONT COUNTY, Ohio — A leak caused by an explosion at a gas well in southeast Ohio in February 2018 resulted in one of the largest expulsions of methane ever on record, according to reports.

The Washington Post reports data from a satellite shows that in 20 days, the amount of the greenhouse gas methane that escaped into the atmosphere from the fracking well exceeded the annual output of all but three European nations. The Post says it’s the first time a satellite has detected and measured a methane leak.

A a Dutch-American team of scientists that studied the date from the satellite published its findings Monday, according to the New York Times. The findings show that large methane leaks, particularly from gas wells, might be more common than realized, the Times reports.

…methane is one of the most potent greenhouse gases. Over a 20-year period, methane is 84 times more conducive to global warming than carbon dioxide.

The Times reports that natural gas is cleaner than coal when burned for electricity. However, the extraction process can be far more damaging to the atmosphere than burning coal if methane escapes into the atmosphere.