Fugitive emissions
Unintended releases of gas from equipment, infrastructure or other sources.
Example
A worn valve or faulty pipe joint can leak methane.
The catch
Some inventories distinguish leaks from intentional venting and other releases.
Related terms
Methane, Venting, Anthropogenic methane, Biogenic methane, Flaring, Fossil methane
In more depth
Fugitive emissions, explained.
Many fugitive leaks can be fixed cheaply, and the IEA notes that some repairs pay for themselves because the saved gas can be sold. Finding them is the hard part. Leaks come from many small components such as seals, valves and compressor parts, plus the occasional large failure that can outweigh the rest. Operators locate them through leak detection and repair surveys using infrared cameras and handheld analysers on the ground, or sensors on aircraft and satellites.
The label stretches between rulebooks. The GHG Protocol's fugitive category for direct emissions covers refrigerant leaks and some intentional releases as well as escaping gas. National inventories built on IPCC guidance file venting and flaring from fuel production under the same fugitive heading. Before comparing figures, check which gases and release types each one counts, and whether it was measured or estimated from equipment counts.