Permian Basin Halves Methane Intensity in Two Years

The Permian Basin, America’s largest oilfield, has cut its methane intensity by more than half in just two years. According to S&P Global Commodity Insights, methane emissions intensity fell by over 50% between 2022 and 2024, while absolute emissions dropped by 55bn cubic feet (bcf). Last year alone they declined by 21bn bcf. This progress has come even as the basin remains the country’s top source of crude.

Much of the credit goes to new surveillance. More than 500 high-resolution aerial surveys, 529 flights across 175 days, scanned around 90% of production sites, helping operators detect and fix leaks quickly. The programme, carried out with Insight M, produced the observational data that underpin basin-wide estimates.

On the ground, companies are coupling these flyovers with upgraded kit such as low- and zero-bleed pneumatics. Artificial intelligence is also being introduced, shifting the emphasis from “find and fix” to “predict and prevent”. Methane management is becoming routine rather than exceptional.

Rules and markets are also pushing the change. New Environmental Protection Agency standards, combined with pressure from buyers seeking verified performance, are steering operators to invest. Still, the industry is watching politics closely: a second Trump administration could attempt to roll back regulations, slowing momentum.

The basin’s results are attracting attention abroad as an example of how emissions cuts need not come at the expense of output. Yet hurdles remain. Smaller operators often lack the resources for sophisticated monitoring, and reporting practices vary. The Permian has shown what technology and incentives can deliver. The question is whether others can keep pace.