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Title: Measurements of methane emissions from natural gas gathering facilities and processing plants: measurement methods

Abstract

Increased natural gas production in recent years has spurred intense interest in methane (CH4) emissions associated with its production, gathering, processing, transmission, and distribution. Gathering and processing facilities (G&P facilities) are unique in that the wide range of gas sources (shale, coal-bed, tight gas, conventional, etc.) results in a wide range of gas compositions, which in turn requires an array of technologies to prepare the gas for pipeline transmission and distribution. We present an overview and detailed description of the measurement method and analysis approach used during a 20-week field campaign studying CH4 emissions from the natural gas G&P facilities between October 2013 and April 2014. Dual-tracer flux measurements and on-site observations were used to address the magnitude and origins of CH4 emissions from these facilities. The use of a second tracer as an internal standard revealed plume-specific uncertainties in the measured emission rates of 20–47%, depending upon plume classification. Furthermore, combining downwind methane, ethane (C2H6), carbon monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide (CO2), and tracer gas measurements with on-site tracer gas release allows for quantification of facility emissions and in some cases a more detailed picture of source locations.

Authors:
 [1];  [1];  [1];  [2];  [2];  [2];  [3];  [3];  [4];  [3];  [2];  [1];  [3]
+ Show Author Affiliations
  1. Aerodyne Research Inc., Billerica, MA (United States)
  2. Carnegie Mellon Univ., Pittsburgh, PA (United States)
  3. Colorado State Univ., Fort Collins, CO (United States)
  4. Fort Lewis College, Durango, CO (United States)
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Aerodyne Research Inc., Billerica, MA (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE
OSTI Identifier:
1455195
Grant/Contract Number:  
SC0004578
Resource Type:
Accepted Manuscript
Journal Name:
Atmospheric Measurement Techniques (Online)
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Name: Atmospheric Measurement Techniques (Online); Journal Volume: 8; Journal Issue: 5; Journal ID: ISSN 1867-8548
Publisher:
European Geosciences Union
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
03 NATURAL GAS

Citation Formats

Roscioli, J. R., Yacovitch, T. I., Floerchinger, C., Mitchell, A. L., Tkacik, D. S., Subramanian, R., Martinez, D. M., Vaughn, T. L., Williams, L., Zimmerle, D., Robinson, A. L., Herndon, S. C., and Marchese, A. J. Measurements of methane emissions from natural gas gathering facilities and processing plants: measurement methods. United States: N. p., 2015. Web. doi:10.5194/amt-8-2017-2015.
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Roscioli, J. R., Yacovitch, T. I., Floerchinger, C., Mitchell, A. L., Tkacik, D. S., Subramanian, R., Martinez, D. M., Vaughn, T. L., Williams, L., Zimmerle, D., Robinson, A. L., Herndon, S. C., & Marchese, A. J. Measurements of methane emissions from natural gas gathering facilities and processing plants: measurement methods. United States. https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-8-2017-2015
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Roscioli, J. R., Yacovitch, T. I., Floerchinger, C., Mitchell, A. L., Tkacik, D. S., Subramanian, R., Martinez, D. M., Vaughn, T. L., Williams, L., Zimmerle, D., Robinson, A. L., Herndon, S. C., and Marchese, A. J. Thu . "Measurements of methane emissions from natural gas gathering facilities and processing plants: measurement methods". United States. https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-8-2017-2015. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1455195.
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@article{osti_1455195,
title = {Measurements of methane emissions from natural gas gathering facilities and processing plants: measurement methods},
author = {Roscioli, J. R. and Yacovitch, T. I. and Floerchinger, C. and Mitchell, A. L. and Tkacik, D. S. and Subramanian, R. and Martinez, D. M. and Vaughn, T. L. and Williams, L. and Zimmerle, D. and Robinson, A. L. and Herndon, S. C. and Marchese, A. J.},
abstractNote = {Increased natural gas production in recent years has spurred intense interest in methane (CH4) emissions associated with its production, gathering, processing, transmission, and distribution. Gathering and processing facilities (G&P facilities) are unique in that the wide range of gas sources (shale, coal-bed, tight gas, conventional, etc.) results in a wide range of gas compositions, which in turn requires an array of technologies to prepare the gas for pipeline transmission and distribution. We present an overview and detailed description of the measurement method and analysis approach used during a 20-week field campaign studying CH4 emissions from the natural gas G&P facilities between October 2013 and April 2014. Dual-tracer flux measurements and on-site observations were used to address the magnitude and origins of CH4 emissions from these facilities. The use of a second tracer as an internal standard revealed plume-specific uncertainties in the measured emission rates of 20–47%, depending upon plume classification. Furthermore, combining downwind methane, ethane (C2H6), carbon monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide (CO2), and tracer gas measurements with on-site tracer gas release allows for quantification of facility emissions and in some cases a more detailed picture of source locations.},
doi = {10.5194/amt-8-2017-2015},
journal = {Atmospheric Measurement Techniques (Online)},
number = 5,
volume = 8,
place = {United States},
year = {Thu May 07 00:00:00 EDT 2015},
month = {Thu May 07 00:00:00 EDT 2015}
}
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https://doi.org/10.5194/amt-8-2017-2015
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