title: Atmospheric Mercury in the Barnett Shale Area, Texas: Implications for Emissions from Oil and Gas Processing.
abstract: Atmospheric mercury emissions in the Barnett Shale area were studied by employing both stationary measurements and mobile laboratory surveys. Stationary measurements near the Engle Mountain Lake showed that the median mixing ratio of total gaseous mercury (THg) was 138 ppqv (140 ± 29 ppqv for mean ± S.D.) during the June 2011 study period. A distinct diurnal variation pattern was observed in which the highest THg levels appeared near midnight, followed by a monotonic decrease until midafternoon. The influence of oil and gas (ONG) emissions was substantial in this area, as inferred from the i-pentane/n-pentane ratio (1.17). However, few THg plumes were captured by our mobile laboratory during a ∼3700 km survey with detailed downwind measurements from 50 ONG facilities. One compressor station and one natural gas condensate processing facility were found to have significant THg emissions, with maximum THg levels of 963 and 392 ppqv, respectively, and the emissions rates were estimated to be 7.9 kg/yr and 0.3 kg/yr, respectively. Our results suggest that the majority of ONG facilities in this area are not significant sources of THg; however, it is highly likely that a small number of these facilities contribute a relatively large amount of emissions in the ONG sector.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Climate and Atmospheric Science, Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Houston , Houston, Texas 77004, United States.
authors.forename: Xin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Lan
authors.affiliation: Institute for Climate and Atmospheric Science, Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Houston , Houston, Texas 77004, United States.
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Talbot
authors.affiliation: Institute for Climate and Atmospheric Science, Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Houston , Houston, Texas 77004, United States.
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Laine
authors.affiliation: Institute for Climate and Atmospheric Science, Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Houston , Houston, Texas 77004, United States.
authors.forename: Azucena
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Torres
authors.affiliation: Institute for Climate and Atmospheric Science, Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Houston , Houston, Texas 77004, United States.
authors.forename: Barry
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lefer
authors.affiliation: Institute for Climate and Atmospheric Science, Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Houston , Houston, Texas 77004, United States.
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Flynn
mesh_terms: D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D001272:Atmosphere / Q000737:chemistry*; D002248:Carbon Monoxide / Q000032:analysis; D003198:Computer Simulation; D005843:Geography; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000737:chemistry*; D007753:Laboratories; D008628:Mercury / Q000032:analysis*; D059206:Natural Gas / Q000032:analysis*; D061329:Oil and Gas Fields; D013458:Sulfur Dioxide / Q000032:analysis; D013781:Texas; D013997:Time Factors; D055549:Volatile Organic Compounds / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D059206:Natural Gas; D055549:Volatile Organic Compounds; D013458:Sulfur Dioxide; D002248:Carbon Monoxide; D008628:Mercury