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The Economics of Natural Gas Venting, Flaring and Leaking in U.S. Shale: An Agenda for Research and Policy

Author

Listed:
  • Mark Agerton

    (Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, University of California Davis and Non-Resident Fellow at Baker Institute for Public Policy, Rice University)

  • Ben Gilbert

    (Department of Economics and Business, Colorado School of Mines)

  • Gregory B. Upton Jr.

    (Center for Energy Studies, Louisiana State University)

Abstract

Natural gas venting, flaring and leaking (VF&L) are closely intertwined environmental policy issues for U.S. shale oil and gas operations. In this paper, we lay out an agenda for researchers and policymakers. We describe why VF&L are closely related, both physically and in terms of policy. We perform an interdisciplinary literature review on measurement of VF&L. We marshal granular industry data to identify constraints in the natural gas system correlated with upstream VF&L. Motivated by this descriptive analysis, we discuss the economic reasons for VF&L and the market distortions that could exacerbate VF&L. We then discuss the external cost of VF&L. We calculate that reported 2015 and 2019 flaring and venting imposed climate damages of $0.9 to $1.8 billion and $1.7 to $3.4 billion. We calculate that climate damages of 2015 upstream U.S. methane emissions estimated by Alvarez et al. (2018) were $16.8 billion. Finally, we discuss both existing policy and economic insights relevant to future policy.

Suggested Citation

  • Mark Agerton & Ben Gilbert & Gregory B. Upton Jr., 2021. "The Economics of Natural Gas Venting, Flaring and Leaking in U.S. Shale: An Agenda for Research and Policy," Working Papers 2021-02, Colorado School of Mines, Division of Economics and Business.
    • Handle: RePEc:mns:wpaper:wp202102
    as

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    File URL: http://econbus-papers.mines.edu/working-papers/wp202102.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    methane; venting; flaring; natural gas; shale; environmental policy;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • Q35 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Nonrenewable Resources and Conservation - - - Hydrocarbon Resources
    • Q48 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Energy - - - Government Policy
    • Q53 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Air Pollution; Water Pollution; Noise; Hazardous Waste; Solid Waste; Recycling
    • Q54 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Climate; Natural Disasters and their Management; Global Warming

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