By now, just about everyone is aware of and has been impacted by efforts to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions — and methane especially — as a way of meeting global climate goals, but that doesn’t mean everyone is on the same page. The energy industry is a leading source of methane emissions in the U.S., but with nearly 1 million active wells across the country and not much common ground on the actual scope of methane emissions and how best to reduce them, finding a path forward without overburdening the sector and its customers is more than a little tricky. In today’s RBN blog, we preview our latest Drill Down Report on efforts to reduce methane emissions.
Discussions around the ongoing energy transition often focus on the need to control and then reduce the volume of GHGs emitted into the atmosphere. And while carbon dioxide (CO2), the most prevalent GHG, often gets the most attention, methane is especially problematic. It is the primary constituent in pipeline natural gas and also a particularly potent GHG, with a Global Warming Potential (GWP) that is 25-36 times that of CO2 if normalized to a 100-year timeline. But methane emissions are neutralized in the atmosphere at a much quicker pace, meaning that their initial GWP is much higher, more like 86 times that of CO2 if normalized to a 20-year timeline. That means that making even modest reductions in unburned methane emissions is an important step in plans to blunt the long-term effects of man-made climate change.
The U.S. oil and gas sector accounted for the equivalent of 211 million metric tons of CO2 (based on the 100-year timeframe noted above; MMtCO2e) in 2020, according to the most recent industry-specific data from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Those emissions are tied to several sources, with natural gas production (41%, 87 MMtCO2e) and oil production (19%, 41 MMtCO2e) responsible for the majority. Going one step further to look at emissions from production, most are tied to either pneumatic devices (35%) — which control gas flows, levels, temperature and pressure in the equipment — or gathering and boosting stations (29%). With 60% of the energy sector’s emissions tied directly to oil and gas production, it makes sense to target the emissions from the types of wells presumed to leak at the highest rates — the low-performing wells that can operate for decades after their high-performing years are done.
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About the song
“Cover Me” was written by Bruce Springsteen and appears as the second song on side one of Springsteen’s seventh studio album, Born in the USA. Released as a single in July 1984, the song went to #2 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock and #7 on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles charts. It has been certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America. The song was recorded at the Hit Factory in New York City in January 1982. Springsteen had originally written “Cover Me” for Donna Summer, but his manager, Jon Landau, decided to keep the song for Springsteen’s Born in the USA album because of its hit potential. Personnel on the album were: Bruce Springsteen (lead vocals, lead guitar, acoustic guitar), Roy Bittan (piano, synthesizer, backing vocals), Clarence Clemons (sax, percussion, backing vocals), Danny Federici (organ), Garry Tallent (bass, backing vocals), Steven Van Zandt (rhythm guitar, acoustic guitar, backing vocals), Max Weinberg (drums, backing vocals), and Richie Rosenberg (backing vocals).
Born in the USA was recorded between January 1982 and March 1984 at The Hit Factory and Record Plant in New York City. Produced by Jon Landau, Chuck Plotkin, Bruce Springsteen and Steven Van Zandt, the album was released in June 1984. It remains Springsteen's biggest-selling album with sales of over 30 million copies worldwide. Recorded with the E Street Band, the album went to #1 on the Billboard 200 Albums chart and has been certified 15x Platinum by the RIAA. Seven singles were released from the LP.
Bruce Springsteen is an American rock singer, songwriter and musician. Nicknamed “The Boss,” he is known for his song lyrics and high-energy concerts, some that have lasted over four hours. He has released 21 studio albums, 23 live albums, eight compilation albums, one soundtrack album, seven EPs, and 77 singles, most of which feature his E Street Band. He has sold more than 140 million records worldwide. He has won one Academy Award, two Golden Globes, 20 Grammy Awards, and is a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Songwriters Hall of Fame. He has received Kennedy Center Honors, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and the National Medal of Arts. Springsteen continues to record and begins an extensive international tour with his E Street Band on April 28 in Barcelona, Spain.
