Drillers can plug methane leaks affordably, says study

NEW YORK (Bloomberg) -- Methane leaks from oil and natural gas production can be cut by 40 percent for less than 1 cent per thousand cubic feet of gas, according to a study backed by an environmental group. By plugging leaks in compressors and pipes, producers can cut emissions of methane, a potent heat-trapping gas, according to a report set for release today by the Environmental Defense Fund and ICF International Inc., a consultancy specializing in energy and the environment. The $2.2 billion cost would be offset over time by the sale of captured gas, the study estimates.