Pennsylvania has reached the final stages of approving a new rule that would more strictly monitor methane emissions from older oil and gas infrastructure, according to World Oil.

Although the new rule would crack down on older wells, a vast number of low-producing wells would be excluded. The new rule would require quarterly leak detection and repair at well sites that produce the equivalent of at least 15 barrels of oil a day.

A technical advisory committee under the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection met on Dec. 9 to consider the rule, which is expected to move forward to additional oversight committees.

If approved, Pennsylvania will join only a handful, including Colorado and New Mexico, that have restrictions on older wells.

Learn more: World Oil > Pennsylvania nears approval of new methane rules for oil and gas wells