Concurrent variation in oil and gas methane emissions and oil price during the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract. Methane emissions associated with the production, transport, and use of oil natural gas increase climatic impacts energy use; however, little is known about how vary temporally commodity prices. We present airborne ground-based data, supported by satellite observations, to measure weekly monthly changes in total methane United States' Permian Basin during a period volatile prices COVID-19 pandemic. As declined from ∼ USD 60 20 per barrel, changed concurrently 3.3 % 1.9 production; as partially recovered, increased back near initial values. Concurrently, production only 10 peak values seen months prior crash. Activity data indicate that rapid decline well development subsequent effects on flaring midstream infrastructure throughput are likely drivers temporary emission reductions. Our results, along past suggest under more typical price conditions, state overcapacity which rapidly growing exceeds capacity leads high emissions.