Pioneer Natural CEO calls out shale industry for Permian Basin gas flaring

HOUSTON (Reuters) - The chief executive of Pioneer Natural Resources , Scott Sheffield, on Tuesday called on producers in the top U.S. shale field to limit natural gas flaring and monitor for methane leaks.Companies are targeting oil in the fast-growing Permian Basin field, but pipeline construction has lagged, leaving natural gas as a byproduct to be burned or vented. Producers should get flaring and venting rates to 2% or less and not drill wells before pipelines are complete, Sheffield said..