Federal oil and gas leases : opportunities exist to capture vented and flared natural gas, which would increase royalty payments and reduce greenhouse gases : report to congressional requesters.

Format:

Book

Government document

Author/Creator:

United States. Government Accountability Office

Contributor:

Rusco, F. W. (Frank W.)

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

United States. Department of the Interior--Rules and practice--Evaluation.

United States.

United States. Department of the Interior.

Greenhouse gas mitigation--Government policy--United States.

Greenhouse gas mitigation.

Gas industry--Government policy--United States.

Gas industry.

Oil and gas leases--United States.

Oil and gas leases.

Public lands--United States--Management.

Public lands.

Gas industry--Government policy.

Greenhouse gas mitigation--Government policy.

Public lands--Management.

Genre:

Rules and practice.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (iii, 50 pages) : illustrations

Other Title:

Opportunities exist to capture vented and flared natural gas, which would increase royalty payments and reduce greenhouse gases

Place of Publication:

[Washington, D.C.] : U.S. Govt. Accountability Office, [2010]

Summary:

The Department of the Interior leases public lands for oil and natural gas development, which generated about $9 billion in royalties in 2009. Some gas produced on these leases cannot be easily captured and is released (vented) directly to the atmosphere or is burned (flared). This vented and flared gas represents potential lost royalties for Interior and contributes to greenhouse gas emissions. GAO was asked to (1) examine available estimates of the vented and flared natural gas on federal leases, (2) estimate the potential to capture additional gas with available technologies and associated potential increases in royalty payments and decreases in greenhouse gas emissions, and (3) assess the federal role in reducing venting and flaring. In addressing these objectives, GAO analyzed data from Interior, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and others and interviewed agency and industry officials. To reduce lost gas, increase royalties, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, GAO recommends that Interior improve its venting and flaring data and address limitations in its regulations and guidance.

Notes:

Title from cover screen (GAO, viewed on Dec. 6, 2010).

"October 2010."

Includes bibliographical references.

"GAO-11-34."

OCLC:

689998597