New Mexico

New Mexico state regulators vowed to keep the oil and gas industry in check during the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent market collapse, as some groups worried that shut-in wells and other cost-saving measures could lead to operators flouting environmental regulations.

The COVID-19 disaster and a catastrophic fall in oil prices could leave the state on the hook for billions in environmental cleanup costs if oil and gas companies go bankrupt during the health crisis, New Mexico's top land official says.

A recently completed health impact assessment in New Mexico found periodic spikes of formaldehyde and other pollutants associated with oil and gas development recorded at unsafe levels for short periods of time near homes. 

As studies point to increased emissions, ExxonMobil is stepping up efforts to detect and mitigate methane release.

New Mexico released data on excess greenhouse emissions from oil and gas operations to keep the public informed of the problem, as the state continues to develop stricter policies to regulate air pollution from the industry and other sources.

Output fell below 12 million B/D and was down more than 300,000 B/D from an all-time high in April, according to data from the US Energy Information Administration.

New Mexico’s Lujan Grisham pushes an ambitious pro-environment agenda for an industry whose receipts dominate the state budget.

At an initial production rate of almost 13 MMcf/D, BP’s new well has achieved the highest early-production level in 14 years for a well in the San Juan Basin of Colorado and New Mexico.