"From Colorado to Texas, government officials are grappling with concerns about unreliable reports from oil and gas companies."
"Federal and state regulators have long relied on oil and gas operators to self-report data covering almost everything they do, but some high-profile missteps and fraud have shaken that framework.
Operators are supposed to provide details around emissions data, the amount of crude spilled in an accident, well pressure test results and how much gas is coming out of a well, among other things. Regulators then review the data and conduct field inspections to verify a company’s report.
The major problem, analysts and environmental groups say, is that governments often lack the staff and resources to properly vet data — making it difficult for agencies to track how accurate the data and reports they receive are."
