Research and analysis

Emissions of methane from abandoned onshore oil and gas wells

Examines levels of methane at the sites of closed, historic onshore oil and gas wells

From:
Environment Agency
Published
10 October 2017

Documents

Emissions of methane from abandoned onshore oil and gas wells

Ref: SC140032/S

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Details

This study examines levels of methane at the sites of closed, historic onshore oil and gas wells. Sites of old oil and gas exploration and production wells were surveyed.

The study found that methane emissions were generally low compared to other methane-releasing activities. The information will inform the Environment Agency’s regulatory approach to proposed new developments of this type by helping us to understand the scale of the risks presented by closed sites. It helps to address suggestions that closed wells could be a source of elevated methane concentrations in the atmosphere.

Published 10 October 2017