Methane emissions from the United States' leading oil and gas-producing regions have decreased by 44 percent since 2011, according to data from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). This decline in emissions has occurred even as the country has consistently set new records for energy production. The United States has been the top crude oil producer globally for six consecutive years.

The latest figures on methane emissions were released following the publication of 2023 data from the EPA’s Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program. This data, which can be analyzed by basin, indicates that significant reductions in methane emissions have been achieved across all major U.S. oil and gas basins. Each of these seven key producing areas reported a decrease in total methane emissions over recent years.