Skip to main content
OSTI.GOVU.S. Department of Energy Office of Scientific and Technical Information
U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information
 

Single-Blind Quantification of Natural Gas Leaks from 1 km Distance Using Frequency Combs

Journal Article · · Environmental Science and Technology
 [1]; ; ;  [2];  [2];  [2];  [2];  [3];  [2];
  1. University of Colorado
  2. National Institute of Standards and Technology, Boulder, Colorado 80305, United States
  3. National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20899, United States
+ Show Author Affiliations
A new method is tested in a single-blind study for detection, attribution, and quantification of methane emissions from the natural gas supply chain, which contribute substantially to annual U.S. emissions. The monitoring approach couples atmospheric methane concentration measurements from an open-path dual frequency comb laser spectrometer with meteorological data in an inversion to characterize emissions. During single-blind testing, the spectrometer is placed >1 km from decommissioned natural gas equipment configured with intentional leaks of control- lable rate. Single, steady emissions ranging from 0 to 10.7 g min-1 (0-34.7 scfh) are detected, located, and quantified at three gas pads of varying size and complexity. The system detects 100% of leaks, including leaks as small as 0.96 g min-1 (3.1 scfh). It attributes leaks to the correct pad or equipment group (tank battery, separator battery, wellhead battery) 100% of the time and to the correct equipment (specific separator, tank, or wellhead) 67% of the time. All leaks are quantified to within 3.7 g min-1 (12 scfh); 94% are quantified to within 2.8 g min-1 (9 scfh). Finally, these tests are an important initial demonstration of the methodology’s viability for continuous monitoring of large regions, with extension to other trace gases and industries.
Research Organization:
Univ. of Colorado, Boulder, CO (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST); USDOE Advanced Research Projects Agency - Energy (ARPA-E); USDOE Office of Fossil Energy (FE), Oil & Natural Gas
Grant/Contract Number:
AR0000539; FE0029168
OSTI ID:
1682233
Alternate ID(s):
OSTI ID: 1688434
OSTI ID: 1688444
Journal Information:
Environmental Science and Technology, Journal Name: Environmental Science and Technology Journal Issue: 5 Vol. 53; ISSN 0013-936X
Publisher:
American Chemical Society (ACS)Copyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

Similar Records

Related Subjects

03 NATURAL GAS
batteries
hydrocarbons
lipids
testing and assessment
wind