Atmospheric hydrocarbon emissions and concentrations in the barnett shale natural gas production region.
Hourly ambient hydrocarbon concentration data were collected, in the Barnett Shale Natural Gas Production Region, using automated gas chromatography (auto-GC), for the period from April 2010 to December 2011. Data for three sites were compared: a site in the geographical center of the natural gas production region (Eagle Mountain Lake (EML)); a rural/suburban site at the periphery of the production region (Flower Mound Shiloh), and an urban site (Hinton). The dominant hydrocarbon species observed in the Barnett Shale region were light alkanes. Analyses of daily, monthly, and hourly patterns showed little variation in relative composition. Observed concentrations were compared to concentrations predicted using a dispersion model (AERMOD) and a spatially resolved inventory of volatile organic compounds (VOC) emissions from natural gas production (Barnett Shale Special Emissions Inventory) prepared by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), and other emissions information. The predicted concentrations of VOC due to natural gas production were 0-40% lower than background corrected measurements, after accounting for potential under-estimation of certain emission categories. Hourly and daily variations in observed, background corrected concentrations were primarily explained by variability in meteorology, suggesting that episodic emission events had little impact on hourly averaged concentrations. Total emissions for VOC from natural gas production sources are estimated to be approximately 25,300 tons/yr, when accounting for potential under-estimation of certain emission categories. This region produced, in 2011, approximately 5 bcf/d of natural gas (100 Gg/d) for a VOC to natural gas production ratio (mass basis) of 0.0006.
Center for Energy and Environmental Resources, The University of Texas at Austin , 10100 Burnet Rd., Austin, Texas 78758, United States.
Daniel
D
Zavala-Araiza
David W
DW
Sullivan
David T
DT
Allen
D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D000397:Air Pollution; D006838:Hydrocarbons / Q000032:analysis*; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D059206:Natural Gas; D013781:Texas; D055549:Volatile Organic Compounds / Q000032:analysis
D000393:Air Pollutants; D006838:Hydrocarbons; D059206:Natural Gas; D055549:Volatile Organic Compounds