title: Measurements of methane emissions from natural gas gathering facilities and processing plants: measurement results.
abstract: Facility-level methane emissions were measured at 114 gathering facilities and 16 processing plants in the United States natural gas system. At gathering facilities, the measured methane emission rates ranged from 0.7 to 700 kg per hour (kg/h) (0.6 to 600 standard cubic feet per minute (scfm)). Normalized emissions (as a % of total methane throughput) were less than 1% for 85 gathering facilities and 19 had normalized emissions less than 0.1%. The range of methane emissions rates for processing plants was 3 to 600 kg/h (3 to 524 scfm), corresponding to normalized methane emissions rates <1% in all cases. The distributions of methane emissions, particularly for gathering facilities, are skewed. For example, 30% of gathering facilities contribute 80% of the total emissions. Normalized emissions rates are negatively correlated with facility throughput. The variation in methane emissions also appears driven by differences between inlet and outlet pressure, as well as venting and leaking equipment. Substantial venting from liquids storage tanks was observed at 20% of gathering facilities. Emissions rates at these facilities were, on average, around four times the rates observed at similar facilities without substantial venting.
authors: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University , Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213, United States.
authors: Austin L
authors: AL
authors: Mitchell
authors: Daniel S
authors: DS
authors: Tkacik
authors: Joseph R
authors: JR
authors: Roscioli
authors: Scott C
authors: SC
authors: Herndon
authors: Tara I
authors: TI
authors: Yacovitch
authors: David M
authors: DM
authors: Martinez
authors: Timothy L
authors: TL
authors: Vaughn
authors: Laurie L
authors: LL
authors: Williams
authors: Melissa R
authors: MR
authors: Sullivan
authors: Cody
authors: C
authors: Floerchinger
authors: Mark
authors: M
authors: Omara
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Subramanian
authors: Daniel
authors: D
authors: Zimmerle
authors: Anthony J
authors: AJ
authors: Marchese
authors: Allen L
authors: AL
authors: Robinson
mesh_terms: D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D019652:Extraction and Processing Industry / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008697:Methane / Q000032:analysis*; D059206:Natural Gas; D014481:United States
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D059206:Natural Gas; D008697:Methane