"The final regulation will require oil and gas companies to pay royalties on vented or flared natural gas."

"The Interior Department moved Wednesday to slash methane pollution from drilling on public lands, a key peg in President Joe Biden’s reform agenda for the federal oil program.

The Bureau of Land Management’s rule will make oil companies pay royalties on “wasted” natural gas. That is the methane that operators either vent into the air or burn off rather than capture in a pipeline and sell.

The final rule also requires drillers to either commit to capturing 100 percent of the gas they produce or develop “waste minimization plans” to cut down on venting and flaring outside of emergencies. It also requires operators to submit plans for tracking and repairing gas leaks in infrastructure like pipelines. BLM officials will be able to delay or deny drilling permits if operators are not complying with these standards."

Heather Richards reports for E&E News March 27, 2024. [2]

SEE ALSO:

"New US Rules Seek To Curb Methane From Oil And Gas On Public Lands" (Reuters) [3]

"Interior Department Rule Aims To Crack Down On Methane Leaks From Oil, Gas Drilling On Public Lands" (AP) [4]