New report estimates enough natural gas is leaking to negate climate benefits

Natural gas drilling only has environmental benefits over other processes like coal and oil production if producers can keep a tight lid on leaks

Natural gas has been touted as an environmentally friendly substitute to coal and oil production, but a new report estimates enough gas is leaking to negate most of the climate benefits of process.

The report, commissioned by the Environmental Defense Fund and carried out by environmental consulting group ICF International, estimated the amount of leaks from natural gas and oil production on federal and tribal land in the US. It also looked at venting and flaring, processes in which drilling sites purposefully let gas go into the atmosphere for a variety of reasons - usually for safety.