Inefficient and unlit natural gas flares both emit large quantities of methane

This study calculates flare efficiency by using airborne sampling across three U.S. basins that are responsible for more than 80% of the country’s flaring emissions. The findings reveal that both unlit flares and inefficient combustion contribute significantly to ineffective methane destruction. Specifically, flares are only effective in destroying 91.1% of methane, which is much lower than previously assumed. This inefficiency leads to a fivefold increase in methane emissions compared to current assumptions, contributing to 4–10% of total U.S. oil and gas methane emissions. This highlights a previously underappreciated source of methane emissions and presents a significant opportunity for mitigation efforts.