Plugging Methane From Oil Wells Seen Topping $125 Million
- Interior plan orders companies to plug leaks in existing wells
- Previous methane mandates have been limited to new wells
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The Obama administration moved for the first time Friday to stop energy companies from releasing unwanted natural gas from oil wells drilled on federal lands, a practice that environmentalists say contributes to global warming.
The draft rule is seen as a precursor to restrictions that could be imposed on existing oil and gas wells on private lands, and comes as the industry suffers through a contraction caused by plummeting crude prices.