Methane Integrated Monitoring and Measurement System Design

Technical Report · Tue Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 2024

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/2480126· OSTI ID:2480126

Zenker, Jake P. ^[1]; Patel, Lekha ^[1]; Lilje, Anneliese ^[1]; Miller, Philip Rocco ^[1]; Whiting, Joshua Jonathan ^[1]; Lewis, Jennifer E. ^[1]; Krofcheck, Daniel Joseph ^[1]; Shuler, Kurtis Woodfin ^[1]; Amann, Clare M. ^[1]; Glen, Andrew ^[1]

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1. Sandia National Laboratories (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)

Methane (CH₄), an abundant greenhouse gas, is the second largest contributor to global warming after carbon dioxide (CO₂). In comparison to CO₂, CH₄ has a larger warming effect over a much shorter lifetime. While technologies to radically reduce global carbon dioxide emissions are materializing, rapid reductions in methane emissions are needed to limit near-term warming. Methane is primarily emitted as a byproduct from agricultural activities and energy extraction/utilization and is currently monitored via bottom-up (i.e., activity level) or top-down (via airborne or satellite retrievals) approaches. However, significant methane leaks remain undetected, and emission rates are challenging to characterize with current monitoring frameworks. In this report, we study methane leaks from oil and gas infrastructure using a tiered monitoring approach that combines bottom-up and top-down approaches in an integrated framework. We describe the individual advantages of bottom-up and top-down sensors in both stationary and mobile settings before characterizing how a fully integrated framework can improve predictions and uncertainties of potential leak locations and their emission rates. Further, we study the impact of different atmospheric (wind) conditions on integrated methane monitoring and develop a probabilistic approach to optimal sensor placement, thereby shortening detection times and improving monitoring capabilities. Last, we discuss how biogenic flux modeling can be used to improve assessment of background methane concentrations needed to fully assess the sensitivity of a tiered monitoring system.

• Research Organization: Sandia National Laboratories (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management (FECM); USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)
• DOE Contract Number: NA0003525
• OSTI ID: 2480126
• Report Number(s): SAND--2024-13381
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES