Energy & Science
Mysterious Methane Plumes Spotted Above Texas Oil and Gas Fields
State regulators couldn’t identify the source of the potent greenhouse gas, while companies operating nearby said they weren’t responsible.
An exposed gas pipeline in Texas.
Photographer: Matthew Busch/BloombergThis article is for subscribers only.
A satellite spotted two plumes of planet-warming methane rising from a patch of East Texas that's home to multiple oil and gas operations.
State regulators said they couldn’t identify the source of the methane, which is the primary component of natural gas and traps 80 times as much heat than carbon dioxide in its first two decades in the atmosphere. Stemming methane leaks and stopping unnecessary releases is one of the most powerful steps that can be taken to slow global warming.