Science study uses MethaneSAT to map persistent methane leaks in major oil and gas basins

A team led by Harvard University and the Environmental Defense Fund reports in Science today the first peer reviewed analysis from MethaneSAT, mapping methane emissions across major oil and gas basins and identifying persistent high emitting sources. The study analyzes MethaneSAT data collected in 2025 over the Permian Basin and other regions, providing basin scale emission rates that regulators can verify independently.

The timing is significant because the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency waste emissions charge reaches its maximum level in 2026 and the European Union methane regulation begins phasing in import requirements soon after. Independently validated basin totals and persistence metrics will shape enforcement priorities and compliance plans.

The authors, led by atmospheric chemist Steven C. Wofsy at Harvard, use MethaneSAT’s spectrometer to retrieve column averaged methane enhancements at kilometer scale resolution. They apply inverse modeling to convert those enhancements to flux estimates, then compare results with coordinated aircraft surveys and ground sensors to bound uncertainty. The study reports that a small fraction of sites, which emit repeatedly over months, account for a large share of basin wide methane, which aligns with previous regional aircraft campaigns.

Environmental Defense Fund scientists contribute operational metadata and facility level attribution using public infrastructure maps and operator disclosures. The paper compares satellite inferred emissions with industry self reports and national inventory factors, finding systematic undercounts in basins with dense gathering and processing infrastructure. The authors note that MethaneSAT’s wide swath enables repeat coverage that distinguishes persistent sources from short lived events.

The work builds on earlier satellite studies reported in Science and other journals that used instruments such as TROPOMI and GHGSat to quantify methane at regional and site scales. MethaneSAT extends coverage and sensitivity, which helps close the gap between facility level leak detection and inventory based estimates used by governments.

For engineers, the results point to the need for continuous monitoring at gathering systems and compressor stations, not only at wellheads, and for faster repair timelines at sites that recur in satellite imagery. For policymakers, the data provide a defensible baseline for measurement, reporting, and verification protocols under the U.S. methane fee and the European Union import standard.

If adopted into compliance workflows, satellite verified methane rates will reshape operational software, monitoring services, and equipment procurement across the energy sector, linking space based observation directly to maintenance scheduling, financial risk models, and regulatory reporting.