Snow covered transfer lines are seen at the Dominion Cove Point Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) terminal in Lusby, Maryland March 18, 2014.
Methane is the primary component of natural gas, and is a far more potent greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide in terms of climate-warming potential over the near term, according to the Natural Resources Defense Council, a U.S.-based nonprofit.
However, in terms of methane intensity, or a measure of how much methane is emitted in the production of oil and gas, the United States ranks 10th, emitting 8.18 tonnes of methane per kiloton of oil energy equivalent (ktoe).
That U.S. intensity rating compares favourably to Venezuela's 53.35 tonnes of methane per ktoe, and is 42% less than Russia's 14 tonnes of methane per ktoe.
What's more, it is unclear where EU lawmakers will draw the line in terms of what methane intensity levels are acceptable, and if they plan to adjust thresholds over time.
Persons:
Snow, Gary Cameron, Gavin Maguire, Christopher Cushing
Organizations:
REUTERS, European Union, Natural Resources Defense Council, . Energy Information Administration, U.S, LNG, Russia, International Energy, United States, Reuters, Thomson
Locations:
Lusby , Maryland, LITTLETON , Colorado, United States, U.S, Europe, Russia, Ukraine, States, Canada, Saudi Arabia