Life Cycle Analysis of Natural Gas Extraction and Power Generation
This analysis expands upon previous life cycle analyses (LCAs) of natural gas systems performed by the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL). It provides a complete inventory of emissions to air and water, water consumption, and land use change. These environmental burdens are detailed for all supply chain steps from natural gas production through natural gas distribution. This analysis has 30 distinct scenarios. The scenarios include 14 onshore production basins with their respective extraction technologies, for a total of 27 onshore scenarios. The scenarios also include two offshore production scenarios, Gulf of Mexico (GoM) and offshore Alaska, and an associated gas scenario. The results include a national average based on a production-weighted aggregation of the onshore, offshore, and associated gas scenarios. The life cycle GHG emissions from the United States (U.S.) natural gas supply chain are 19.9 g carbon dioxide equivalents (CO2e)/MJ (with a 95% mean confidence interval of 13.1 to 28.7 g CO2e/MJ). The top contributors to carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4) emissions are combustion exhaust and other venting from compressor systems. Compressor systems are prevalent in most supply chain stages, so compressor emissions are key emission drivers for life cycle emissions. Emission rates are highly variable across the entire supply chain. The national average CH4 emission rate is 1.24%, with a 95% confidence interval ranging from 0.84% to 1.76%.
- Research Organization:
- National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL), Pittsburgh, PA, Morgantown, WV, and Albany, OR (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- FE
- DOE Contract Number:
- DE-FE0025912
- OSTI ID:
- 1529553
- Report Number(s):
- DOE/NETL-2019/2039
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English