We are aware of studies that draw different conclusions about the level of methane emissions from the oil and gas sector as compared to the US GHG Inventory. Some are higher some lower (i.e. EDF). EPA continues to refine the emission estimates in the GHG Inventory to reflect the most robust information available. Substantial amounts of new information on the oil and gas sector will be made available in the coming years through a number of channels, including EPA’s GHGRP, research studies by various organizations, government and academic researchers, and industry. EPA looks forward to reviewing information and data from these studies as they become available for potential incorporation in the Inventory.

In addition, the actions included in the Administration’s methane strategy, targeting both bottom-up and top-down measurement approaches, will improve the overall level of confidence in methane emissions data. We expect that as the work is carried out, and as the quality of data produced from both approaches is improved, we will increase our understanding of the reasons behind currently cited divergent results.