scholarly journals Closing the methane gap in US oil and natural gas production emissions inventories

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeffrey S. Rutherford ◽  
Evan D. Sherwin ◽  
Arvind P. Ravikumar ◽  
Garvin A. Heath ◽  
Jacob Englander ◽  
...  

AbstractMethane (CH4) emissions from oil and natural gas (O&NG) systems are an important contributor to greenhouse gas emissions. In the United States, recent synthesis studies of field measurements of CH4 emissions at different spatial scales are ~1.5–2× greater compared to official greenhouse gas inventory (GHGI) estimates, with the production-segment as the dominant contributor to this divergence. Based on an updated synthesis of measurements from component-level field studies, we develop a new inventory-based model for CH4 emissions, for the production-segment only, that agrees within error with recent syntheses of site-level field studies and allows for isolation of equipment-level contributions. We find that unintentional emissions from liquid storage tanks and other equipment leaks are the largest contributors to divergence with the GHGI. If our proposed method were adopted in the United States and other jurisdictions, inventory estimates could better guide CH4 mitigation policy priorities.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pieternel Levelt ◽  
Pepijn Veefkind ◽  
Esther Roosenbrand ◽  
John Lin ◽  
Jochen Landgraf ◽  
...  

<p>Production of oil and natural gas in North America is at an all-time high due to the development and use of horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing. Methane emissions associated with this industrial activity are a concern because of the contribution to climate radiative forcing. We present new measurements from the space-based TROPOspheric Monitoring Instrument (TROPOMI) launched in 2017 that show methane enhancements over production regions in the United States. Using methane and NO<sub>2</sub> column measurements from the new TROPOMI instrument, we show that emissions from oil and gas production in the Uintah and Permian Basins can be observed in the data from individual overpasses. This is a vast improvement over measurements from previous satellite instruments, which typically needed to be averaged over a year or more to quantify trends and regional enhancements in methane emissions. In the Uintah Basin in Utah, TROPOMI methane columns correlated with in-situ measurements, and the highest columns were observed over the deepest parts of the basin, consistent with the accumulation of emissions underneath inversions. In the Permian Basin in Texas and New Mexico, methane columns showed maxima over regions with the highest natural gas production and were correlated with nitrogen-dioxide columns at a ratio that is consistent with results from in-situ airborne measurements. The improved detail provided by TROPOMI will likely enable the timely monitoring from space of methane and NO2 emissions associated with regular oil and natural gas production.</p>


2016 ◽  
Vol 32 (4) ◽  
pp. 141-156
Author(s):  
Tadeusz Olkuski ◽  
Adam Szurlej ◽  
Barbara Tora

AbstractThe trend towards globalization can be observed for many years. It is reflected by the ongoing elimination of trade barriers between countries and the introduction of a system of mutual recognition of quality standards. The best example is the European Union, where a common market for many industries has been developed. Such a common market has already existed before in the United States of America and that this is why the negotiations on the merger of the largest and most developed economies in the world started in 2013. The currently negotiated agreement, the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) is designed to eliminate barriers to trade and capital flows between the two mentioned markets. The article attempts to evaluate the trade of energy commodities, namely crude oil and natural gas, between the European Union and the United States. The estimates for the next years are based on historical data and the current state. The dynamics of natural gas and crude oil production in the European Union and the United States, as well as changes in the import and export of these energy resources, have been shown. The volume of gas production from the largest North American deposits was also subjected to analysis. Special attention was paid to natural gas from unconventional deposits, as its production is expected to grow continuously until 2040. Meanwhile, the production of gas from conventional deposits is expected to decrease. The rest of the paper is focused on the balance sheets of cash for oil and natural gas. It was pointed out that the market situation for both commodities is different. In the EU, the production and consumption of both crude oil and natural gas gradually decreases, while in the United States this trend is reversed. On the other hand, some similarities can be seen in the refining industry. In recent years, many refineries were closed both in the European Union and in the United States. However, though this trend was more pronounced in Europe. In the case of liquefied gas (LNG), the expansion of US gas to Europe can be expected. Currently, the United States is building about 30 export terminals and production surpluses will certainly be exported to Europe. Judging by the pace of development of export terminals, it can be assumed that the power of condensation can reach up to 110 million tons in the near future and, as a consequence, natural gas in the form of LNG will be supplied to the European market.


2014 ◽  
Vol 49 (1) ◽  
pp. 641-648 ◽  
Author(s):  
David T. Allen ◽  
David W. Sullivan ◽  
Daniel Zavala-Araiza ◽  
Adam P. Pacsi ◽  
Matthew Harrison ◽  
...  

Author(s):  
Jared D. Harris ◽  
Samuel E. Bodily ◽  
Jenny Mead ◽  
Donald Adolphson ◽  
Brad Carmack ◽  
...  

Jane Barrow, CEO of Caprica Energy, must recommend to the board which of three potential “unconventional ” natural-gas development sites in different parts of the United States the company should pursue. The case takes place in January 2011, when the “low-hanging fruit ” of natural-gas production in the United States had essentially been picked. All three of the potential sites (shale, coalbed methane, and tight sands) would require hydraulic fracturing, a process of removing gas that was formerly considered inaccessible by injecting water and chemicals into the ground. Because of emerging concerns about the potential harm “fracking ” can do to drinking water, Barrow must not only analyze which site might be most profitable but also what the potential risks to the environment and area residents might be.


2018 ◽  
Vol 52 (21) ◽  
pp. 12915-12925 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark Omara ◽  
Naomi Zimmerman ◽  
Melissa R. Sullivan ◽  
Xiang Li ◽  
Aja Ellis ◽  
...  

Significance US natural gas prices have surged over the past six weeks thanks to falling supply, strong demand from the power sector and rising exports. The uptick in prices has provided a glimmer of hope to gas producers in the United States, hard hit by a prolonged slump in prices. Impacts Declining gas production and rising demand will mean increased pipeline imports from Canada over the coming months. Mexico will pay higher prices for US natural gas imports as the Henry Hub benchmark, potentially hitting demand. US producers that have more gas-producing assets in their portfolio will benefit from rising prices.


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