State regulators have confirmed a methane gas leak at a pair of idle oil wells near a residential neighborhood in Bakersfield, raising the concerns of local environmental groups who fear the proble…
State regulators have confirmed a methane gas leak at a pair of idle oil wells near a residential neighborhood in Bakersfield, raising the concerns of local environmental groups who fear the problem might be more widespread.
“I was not out looking for things that were leaking when I walked into the oil field,” said Williams-Derry, who works with the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis and was visiting Bakersfield last week. “I wonder what this means for people in the community, because if someone can just wander by there’s no telling what this means.”
Of particular concern are about 35,000 wells sitting idle, with production suspended, half of them for more than a decade. Though California recently toughened its regulations to ensure more cleanup funds are available, those measures don’t go far enough, according to a recent state report and the Times/Public Integrity analysis.
“Methane leakage also indicates that the well may be emitting other harmful chemicals,” the group said. “Methane is a super-polluting greenhouse gas more than 80 times as potent as carbon dioxide. The methane spewing from these wells is contributing to the climate emergency and undercutting the state’s greenhouse gas reduction efforts.”
Earlier this month, CalGEM ordered Sunray Petroleum to plug the wells at the oil field. The court order also required the operator to decommission the production facilities and restore the well sites for 28 idle wells, including the two wells with the methane leaks.
Norge Siste Nytt, Norge Overskrifter
Similar News:Du kan også lese nyheter som ligner på denne som vi har samlet inn fra andre nyhetskilder.
California oil regulator confirms methane leak at idle oil wells in BakersfieldAcross much of California, fossil fuel companies are leaving thousands of oil and gas wells unplugged and idle, potentially threatening the health of people living nearby and in many cases handing taxpayers the bill for the environmental cleanup.
Les mer »
Malaysia sees sustained competitiveness even as Indonesia resumes palm oil exportsIndonesia's resumption of palm oil exports will not blunt Malaysia's competitiveness in exporting the edible oil, the Malaysian commodities minister said on Sunday, pointing to the rival's loss of sales in India.
Les mer »
Ex-German Chancellor Schröder Will Leave Russian Oil Company Rosneft’s BoardFormer German chancellor Gerhard Schröder’s resignation plans come a day after the European Union’s parliament endorsed sanctions against him.
Les mer »
Human hair, animal fur is being used to clean up oil spills – and you can helpA nonprofit based in San Francisco is using human hair and animal fur to help clean up oil spills.
Les mer »
'She Can Win If We Stand With Her': Sanders to Rally for Cisneros in Texas'Her opponent, one of the very few anti-choice Democrats in Congress, is funded by over a million dollars in corporate contributions from Big Oil companies,' said SenSanders ahead of a rally for JCisnerosTX.
Les mer »
50 Years or Never: How Much Crude Oil Do We Have Left?Will we ever run out of crude oil? The answer to this will depend entirely on your outlook on life and the universe.
Les mer »