Gas leaks and the greenhouse effect

Natural gas is mostly methane, one of the greenhouse gases. Minimizing the amount of gas that leaks from the supply system contributes both to public safety and to reducing the environmental impact of gas supply. Gas use emits lower quantities of carbon dioxide, the main greenhouse gas, than using other fossil fuels, and the gas industry is a relatively minor source of atmospheric methane. British Gas has a continuing programme of replacing older gas mains and lays new mains and transmission pipelines in materials which are less prone to leakage. British Gas is carrying out innovative research to provide the first reliable data on the actual amount of leakage from gas mains. (author)