Sun Apr 06 14:40:00 UTC 2025: ## Texas Permian Basin Shows Significant Drop in Methane Emissions Despite Record Production
**Austin, TX –** A new analysis by Texans for Natural Gas reveals a significant decrease in methane emissions from Texas’ oil and natural gas producing regions, particularly in the Permian Basin, the nation’s top producing area. Despite a record-breaking 482% increase in production since 2011, methane intensity in the Permian Basin reached a ten-year low of 0.49 metric tons per barrel of oil equivalent (MT/boe) in 2023 – an 83% decrease.
Flaring intensity in the Permian Basin also saw a dramatic reduction, falling 65% since its 2015 peak. While 2023 showed a slight increase compared to 2022 due to factors like record production and capacity constraints, preliminary data suggests a 14% decrease in 2024. Statewide, Texas’ flaring intensity dropped 47% since 2018, even as production reached its second-highest level ever in 2023.
The report highlights the progress made in reducing emissions despite record production levels, both in Texas and nationally. The United States saw a near 9% increase in oil and natural gas production in 2023, yet flaring intensity remained near its lowest point since 2012.
Todd Staples, president of the Texas Oil & Gas Association, attributed the success to “constant innovation and improvements in production processes, as well as increased use of new technologies such as AI.” He emphasized that environmental protection and energy security are not mutually exclusive goals.
The Permian Basin’s achievement is particularly notable, contributing roughly two-thirds of all U.S. natural gas production in 2023, a year which saw the second-highest record for oil and gas production in the United States. The report suggests that the industry is successfully balancing energy production with environmental responsibility.
First Piper 