OREANDA-NEWS. Voluntary efforts by the US oil and gas industry to limit methane emissions from wellhead to burnertip are not enough, a green group study says, but performance-based standards can economically reduce pollution levels.

Michael Obeiter, senior associate at the World Resources Institute (WRI), said a deep reduction in emissions is technically feasible through performance standards, which are better than technology standards in most cases.

The release of the WRI study comes a day after the Environmental Protection Agency sent to the White House for internal review a proposed rule expected to set first-time limits on methane pollution from the sector.

The institute proposed many technical changes to industry practices, ranging from replacements of rod packing systems at reciprocating compressors to establishing an emissions standard of dry seal centrifugal compressors. Other recommendations included the use of portable compressors during planned pipeline maintenance and approval of state regulators for accelerated replacement programs on distribution systems.

The industry views methane emissions, also known as lost and unaccounted for gas, in a different manner. Consultant ICF International said significant disagreements exist in counting how much gas is actually escaping the system, which could provoke policy-makers to over- or underregulate various sectors of the natural gas business.

Tom Michels, executive director of the One Future Coalition, said a small number of sources account for the vast majority of leaks. The coaltion is comprised of producers, pipelines and distributors that have a goal of a 1pc leak rate target of methane emissions from their value chains.

"We believe it can be done voluntarily, and that is the only way to [be] cost effective," Michels said.

Obeiter added, "There are not as many followers as we hoped there would be in the natural gas industry."