A new study found that fracking wells in Colorado leak about twice as much gas into the atmosphere as originally estimated. Because natural gas is comprised of methane, even fairly small leaks can have an enormous impact on global warming.
Research measurements suggest that about 4 percent of methane in the wells was leaking, while earlier studies done by the Environmental Protection Agency concluded only 1 to 2 percent was lost.
This research was carried out by a team of scientists and professors from the University of Colorado Boulder. The findings will be published in an upcoming issue of the Journal of Geophysical Research.
In response to this study, wells in the Denver-area have already made some changes that ought to cut down on the gas leakage.
Natural gas rig (Photo credit: jermlac)
Fracking Curation project 