| Title: | Mobile Measurement System for the Rapid and Cost-Effective Surveillance of Methane and Volatile Organic Compound Emissions from Oil and Gas Production Sites |
| Author(s): | Zhou X; Peng X; Montazeri A; McHale LE; Gassner S; Lyon DR; Yalin AP; Albertson JD; |
| Address: | "School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, United States. Sibley School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, United States. Department of Mechanical Engineering, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado 80523, United States. Environmental Defense Fund, Austin, Texas 78701, United States" |
| ISSN/ISBN: | 1520-5851 (Electronic) 0013-936X (Linking) |
| Abstract: | "In this study, a ground-based mobile measurement system was developed to provide rapid and cost-effective emission surveillance of both methane (CH(4)) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from oil and gas (O&G) production sites. After testing in several controlled release experiments, the system was deployed in a field campaign in the Eagle Ford basin, TX. We found fat-tail distributions for both methane and total VOC (C4-C12) emissions (e.g., the top 20% sites ranked according to methane and total VOC (C4-C12) emissions were responsible for approximately 60 and approximately 80% of total emissions, respectively) and a good correlation between them (Spearman's R = 0.74). This result suggests that emission controls targeting relatively large emitters may help significantly reduce both methane and VOCs in oil and wet gas basins, such as the Eagle Ford. A strong correlation (Spearman's R = 0.84) was found between total VOC (C4-C12) emissions estimated using SUMMA canisters and data reported from a local ambient air monitoring station. This finding suggests that this system has the potential for rapid emission surveillance targeting relatively large emitters, which can help achieve emission reductions for both greenhouse gas (GHG) and air toxics from O&G production well pads in a cost-effective way" |
| Keywords: | *Air Pollutants/analysis Cost-Benefit Analysis Environmental Monitoring Methane/analysis *Volatile Organic Compounds/analysis; |
| Notes: | "MedlineZhou, Xiaochi Peng, Xiao Montazeri, Amir McHale, Laura E Gassner, Simon Lyon, David R Yalin, Azer P Albertson, John D eng Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S. 2020/12/15 Environ Sci Technol. 2021 Jan 5; 55(1):581-592. doi: 10.1021/acs.est.0c06545. Epub 2020 Dec 14" |
