A new study led by researchers at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) has identified major sources of methane emissions within the United States oil and gas sector, highlighting several "super-emitter" sites responsible for disproportionately large releases of the potent greenhouse gas. The analysis relies on satellite data collected between January 2025 and June 2026, combined with publicly available records, to pinpoint facilities contributing substantially to methane emissions.

Among the sites identified, a gas processing facility near Shreveport, Louisiana, operated by Energy Transfer, stood out as the single largest emitter in the country. The facility reportedly emitted methane at an average rate of 1.56 tonnes per hour, which is about 15 times the threshold defined by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as a "super emitter" event under its methane reduction program initiated during the Biden administration. However, that program’s implementation remains on hold following political and regulatory rollbacks under the Trump administration.

Energy Transfer, headquartered in Dallas and one of the nation’s largest oil and gas pipeline and processing companies, was linked to four of the top 15 emission sites and attributed to 75 distinct methane plumes over the study period—three times the volume of the next largest operator. Other notable firms identified include Enterprise Products, Targa Resources, and Enlink. The company’s CEO, Kelcy Warren, has been a significant donor to former President Donald Trump and has publicly dismissed policies aimed at achieving net-zero carbon emissions.

The UCLA report, authored by Cara Horowitz, executive director of the Emmett Institute on Climate Change and the Environment, stresses that while satellite data remain incomplete, especially due to weather and cloud cover, the magnitude and recurrence of these emissions signify ongoing inefficiencies and environmental harm. "Many of these sites are repeat offenders linked to multiple mega plumes," Horowitz said, emphasizing that increasing oil and gas production must not come at the cost of unchecked methane pollution.

The study focused on three major oil and gas producing regions: the Permian Basin, the Appalachian Basin, and the Haynesville-Bossier Basin. These regions contribute roughly two-thirds of U.S. gas output and underpin the country’s growing liquefied natural gas (LNG) export industry. Though LNG is presented as a cleaner alternative to coal, experts warn that methane leaks throughout the gas supply chain could negate potential climate benefits.

Methane is a significant contributor to global warming, trapping around 80 times more heat than carbon dioxide over a 20-year span and responsible for about one-third of the warming since the Industrial Revolution. Reducing methane emissions is viewed by scientists as a critical near-term measure to slow the climate crisis.

Advocacy groups have highlighted ongoing methane releases due to persistent leaks, intentional venting, and inadequate oversight at oil and gas facilities. Sharon Wilson, director of the monitoring group Oilfield Witness and a former industry worker, documented high methane emissions at Energy Transfer sites and called the firm among the worst methane polluters she has observed.

Of the nearly 1,100 methane plumes detected during the study, researchers could attribute only about one-third to specific operators, underscoring gaps in transparency and accountability within the industry. While some facilities, including the top two emitters identified, showed no detectable plumes in more recent satellite passes, signaling possible improvements, critics maintain that regulatory forbearance and lax enforcement under the current EPA administration limit meaningful progress.

Boardwalk Pipeline Partners, operating a gas storage facility near Shreveport that ranks tenth on the UCLA list, stated it has reduced emissions in recent years and conducts safety-driven venting during maintenance in compliance with regulations.

As methane emissions remain largely unregulated and unpenalized, experts argue that without stricter controls or a transition toward cleaner energy sources, leaks and releases will likely persist. The ongoing expansion of domestic oil and gas infrastructure, alongside efforts to accelerate LNG exports, presents a significant challenge to U.S. climate goals.