Gas pipelines and city gas: Impact on the biosphere
Leaks, compressor noise and corridors through forests and wetlands
What this tab covers Effects on human, animal, plant, fungal and microbial life and on whole ecosystems: in the short term (construction and early years), medium term (operating life) and long term (decommissioning and legacy).Construction cuts a long strip through land and water; operation brings compressor noise, rare explosions and steady methane leakage; old pipes left in the ground can leak or corrode for decades.
Methane from natural gas operations, world, 2025 36 Mt7 Fossil fuel methane avoidable at no net cost, 2025 more than 35 Mt, about 28% of the 124 Mt total (calculated)7 Measured transmission leak rate versus EPA estimate 172 g/h average versus 44 g/h (5 leaks measured)9 Compressors' share of US transmission and storage methane up to 45% (2012 estimate)1Effects over time
| Life affected | Short term | Medium term | Long term |
|---|---|---|---|
| Humans18 | Disturbance, traffic and land access disputes along the right of way during building | Compressor noise (FERC limit 55 dBA day-night average at the nearest home); explosion and fire risk from leaks and dig-ins; methane adds to climate warming | Old cast iron and bare steel mains keep leaking until replaced |
| Animals3 | Trenching and clearing disturb wildlife; wetland and stream crossings need environmental permits | Cleared corridors can split habitat and change animal movement | Little evidence of effect once land is restored |
| Plants3 | Vegetation removed along the working strip | Rights of way kept clear of deep-rooted trees and buildings over the pipe | Corridors usually regrow as grassland or scrub |
| Fungi and soil life8 | Topsoil stripped and compacted during construction | Leaking gas can displace oxygen in soil and kill roots and soil life near leaks | Little evidence of effect |
| Ecosystems7 | River crossings and wetlands disturbed | Methane from the whole gas chain warms the climate | Climate effect of past methane fades over a few decades, unlike carbon dioxide |
How the effects are reduced
The most effective steps are cutting methane: finding and fixing leaks quickly, replacing old cast iron and bare steel mains, swapping gas-driven pneumatic devices and old reciprocating compressors, and using electric drives. Routing lines along existing corridors, boring under rivers and restoring topsoil reduce construction damage. Odorising gas, one-call dig-safe systems and in-line inspection reduce explosion risk.
Sources
- Understanding Natural Gas Compressor Stations Penn State Extension, 2015
- Pipelines 101 Energy Transfer, 2021
- Global Methane Tracker 2026: Key findings IEA, 2026
- A National Estimate of Methane Leakage from Pipeline Mains in Natural Gas Local Distribution Systems (Weller, Hamburg and von Fischer), Environmental Science and Technology 54, 8958-8967 American Chemical Society, 2020
- Study finds natural gas leaks in transmission pipelines that exceed EPA estimates Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 2025