A new report by Gas Leaks Project and Earthworks tallied 166 major methane leaks at 121 New Mexico oil and gas facilities between January 1, 2025, and April 30, 2026. According to the report, only 11 of the leaks appear to have been reported to the state as required by New Mexico rules and operator permits.
The leaks were recorded by Carbon Mapper’s Tanager-1 methane detection satellite, which recorded 50 images of New Mexico’s portion of the Permian Basin in the January-April timeframe. Each image shows a near-instantaneous view of the Earth’s surface measuring approximately 77 by 15 miles. Gas Leaks Project and Earthworks tied the emissions to specific oil and gas facilities.
