Episode Details

Ray Cheatham, Energy Market Leader at Onterris, joined Pipeline & Gas Journal to discuss the methane challenges facing U.S. midstream operators as federal rules shift and public monitoring expands. Cheatham explains why methane is a particular concern for gathering, processing, transmission and storage, and where the EPA’s 2024 methane rule, the OOOOc state plan deadline, the Waste Emissions Charge and PHMSA’s leak detection rule currently stand. He also looks at why operators aren’t easing off despite the federal pullback, pointing to stricter state rules, emissions-intensity terms in LNG and utility contracts, and the risk of regulatory whiplash. The conversation also covers how satellites, aircraft, drones and fixed sensors are making leak data public, EPA’s Super Emitter Program, how operators can respond when remote data is wrong, and the business consequences of a visible leak. Cheatham closes with what leading operators are doing on the ground, how methane management connects to pipeline safety, and what to watch over the next 12 to 18 months.