New EPA data showing the United States continued to lead the world in greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reductions in 2017 – a trend largely attributable to increased natural gas use – got quite a bit of attention last week. But largely overlooked was the fact that the same Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program (GHGRP) data also show that petroleum and natural gas system methane emissions from reporting facilities declined eight percent from 2016 to 2017.

Specifically, the data show methane emissions from large oil and natural gas facilities declined eight million metric CO2 equivalent in 2017. These reductions came at the same time oil and natural gas production increased six percent (521,000 barrels per day) and three percent (700 million cubic feet per day), respectively, from 2016 levels.

These trends prove once again that the U.S. oil and natural gas industry is effectively reducing methane emissions even as record-shattering production has made the United States the world’s leading oil and gas producer.

Read the full blog post on EIDClimate.org.