| Title: | Quantification of natural gas and other hydrocarbons from production sites in northern West Virginia using tracer flux ratio methodology |
| Author(s): | Daube C; Herndon SC; Krechmer JE; Johnson D; Clark N; Footer TL; Thoma ED; |
| Address: | "Aerodyne Research, Inc., 45 Manning Road, Billerica, MA 01821, United States. West Virginia University, Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering, PO Box 6106, Morgantown, WV 26506, United States. Eastern Research Group, Inc., 601 Keystone Park Drive, Suite 700, Morrisville, NC 27560, United States. Center for Environmental Measurement and Modeling, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, 27711, United States" |
| DOI: | 10.1016/j.aeaoa.2023.100220 |
| ISSN/ISBN: | 2590-1621 (Electronic) 2590-1621 (Linking) |
| Abstract: | "Tracer flux ratio (TFR) methodology performed downwind of 15 active oil and natural gas production sites in Ohio County, West Virginia sought to quantify air pollutant emissions over two weeks in April 2018. In coordination with a production company, sites were randomly selected depending on wind forecasts and nearby road access. Methane (CH(4)), ethane (C(2)H(6)), and tracer gas compounds (acetylene and nitrous oxide) were measured via tunable infrared direct absorption spectroscopy. Ion signals attributed to benzene (C(6)H(6)) and other volatile gases (e.g., C(7) - C(9) aromatics) were measured via proton-transfer reaction time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Short-term whole facility emission rates for 12 sites are reported. Results from TFR were systematically higher than the sum of concurrent on-site full flow sampler measurements, though not all sources were assessed on-site in most cases. In downwind plumes, the mode of the C(2)H(6):CH(4) molar ratio distribution for all sites was 0.2, which agreed with spot sample analysis from the site operator. Distribution of C(6)H(6):CH(4) ratios was skew but values between 1 and 5 pptv ppbv(-1) were common. Additionally, the aromatic profile has been attributed to condensate storage tank emissions. Average ratios of C(7) - C(9) to C(6)H(6) were similar to other literature values reported for natural gas wells" |
| Keywords: | Methane Mobile laboratory Oil and natural gas production Tracer release Unmanned aerial vehicle Volatile organic compounds; |
| Notes: | "PubMed-not-MEDLINEDaube, Conner Herndon, Scott C Krechmer, Jordan E Johnson, Derek Clark, Nigel Footer, Tracey L Thoma, Eben D eng EPA999999/ImEPA/Intramural EPA/ England 2023/08/04 Atmos Environ X. 2023 Aug 1; 19:1-8. doi: 10.1016/j.aeaoa.2023.100220" |
