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New Research Finds Higher Methane Emissions, Reduction Opportunities in Barnett Shale Region
http://blogs.edf.org/texascleanairmatters/2015/07/07/new-research-finds-higher-methane-emissions-reduction-opportunities-in-barnett-shale-region/[font face=Serif][font size=5]New Research Finds Higher Methane Emissions, Reduction Opportunities in Barnett Shale Region[/font]
By EDF Staff | Published: July 7, 2015
By: Steve Hamburg, Chief Scientist
[font size=3]Methane emissions from vast oil and gas operations in the densely populated Barnett Shale region of Texas are 50 percent higher than estimates based on the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) greenhouse gas inventory, according to a series of 11 new papers published today in Environmental Science & Technology.
The majority of these emissions are from a small but widespread number of sources across the region’s oil and gas supply chain. These emissions come from the sort of leaks and equipment malfunctions that are relatively easy to prevent with proper and frequent monitoring and repair practices.
The sprawling Barnett region, fanning out westward from the cities of Dallas and Fort Worth, contains about 30,000 oil and gas wells, 275 compressor stations, and 40 processing plants. It is one of the country’s largest production areas, responsible for 7 percent of total U.S. natural gas output.
…
A finding from the research shows that at any given time, roughly 75 percent of the methane emissions from production sites in the Barnett Shale tend to come from a set of elusive and dispersed sources. Higher emissions from these sites are often a result of avoidable operating conditions such as equipment leaks and tank venting that are relatively easy to prevent with frequent monitoring and repair practices.
…[/font][/font]
By EDF Staff | Published: July 7, 2015
By: Steve Hamburg, Chief Scientist
[font size=3]Methane emissions from vast oil and gas operations in the densely populated Barnett Shale region of Texas are 50 percent higher than estimates based on the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) greenhouse gas inventory, according to a series of 11 new papers published today in Environmental Science & Technology.
The majority of these emissions are from a small but widespread number of sources across the region’s oil and gas supply chain. These emissions come from the sort of leaks and equipment malfunctions that are relatively easy to prevent with proper and frequent monitoring and repair practices.
The sprawling Barnett region, fanning out westward from the cities of Dallas and Fort Worth, contains about 30,000 oil and gas wells, 275 compressor stations, and 40 processing plants. It is one of the country’s largest production areas, responsible for 7 percent of total U.S. natural gas output.
…
A finding from the research shows that at any given time, roughly 75 percent of the methane emissions from production sites in the Barnett Shale tend to come from a set of elusive and dispersed sources. Higher emissions from these sites are often a result of avoidable operating conditions such as equipment leaks and tank venting that are relatively easy to prevent with frequent monitoring and repair practices.
…[/font][/font]
https://ssl.uh.edu/news-events/stories/2015/July/0707BarnettShale.php
[font face=Serif][font size=5]Barnett Shale Research Raises New Concerns about Methane Emissions[/font]
[font size=4]UH Research Suggests Environmental Risks from Some Natural Gas Production Sites[/font]
By Jeannie Kever 713-743-0778
July 7, 2015
[font size=3]Researchers from the University of Houston found that some natural gas wells, compressor stations and processing plants in the Barnett Shale leak far more methane (CH₄ ) than previously estimated, potentially offsetting the climate benefits of natural gas.
…
The emissions were measured and reported in several ways; the researchers also calculated measurements to gauge what percentage of the natural gas produced escaped through emissions.
…
Releases at specific installations ranged from 0.01 percent to 47.8 percent; the median was 2.1 percent.
…
Some emissions can be attributed to human error, compounded by the fact that the sites are often left unattended for long periods of time, Talbot said. “A lot of them are a broken valve, or someone leaves a hatch open. It’s human error. And nobody goes back to the site for a month or so.”
…[/font][/font]
[font size=4]UH Research Suggests Environmental Risks from Some Natural Gas Production Sites[/font]
By Jeannie Kever 713-743-0778
July 7, 2015
[font size=3]Researchers from the University of Houston found that some natural gas wells, compressor stations and processing plants in the Barnett Shale leak far more methane (CH₄ ) than previously estimated, potentially offsetting the climate benefits of natural gas.
…
The emissions were measured and reported in several ways; the researchers also calculated measurements to gauge what percentage of the natural gas produced escaped through emissions.
…
Releases at specific installations ranged from 0.01 percent to 47.8 percent; the median was 2.1 percent.
…
Some emissions can be attributed to human error, compounded by the fact that the sites are often left unattended for long periods of time, Talbot said. “A lot of them are a broken valve, or someone leaves a hatch open. It’s human error. And nobody goes back to the site for a month or so.”
…[/font][/font]
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