Quantification of natural gas and other hydrocarbons from production sites in northern West Virginia using tracer flux ratio methodology
Tracer flux ratio (TFR) methodology performed downwind of 15 active oil and natural gas production sites in Ohio County, West Virginia sought to quantify air pollutant emissions over two weeks in April 2018. In coordination with a production company, sites were randomly selected depending on wind fo...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2023-08-01
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| Series: | Atmospheric Environment: X |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590162123000205 |
| _version_ | 1827821081783697408 |
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| author | Conner Daube Scott C. Herndon Jordan E. Krechmer Derek Johnson Nigel Clark Tracey L. Footer Eben D. Thoma |
| author_facet | Conner Daube Scott C. Herndon Jordan E. Krechmer Derek Johnson Nigel Clark Tracey L. Footer Eben D. Thoma |
| author_sort | Conner Daube |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Tracer flux ratio (TFR) methodology performed downwind of 15 active oil and natural gas production sites in Ohio County, West Virginia sought to quantify air pollutant emissions over two weeks in April 2018. In coordination with a production company, sites were randomly selected depending on wind forecasts and nearby road access. Methane (CH4), ethane (C2H6), and tracer gas compounds (acetylene and nitrous oxide) were measured via tunable infrared direct absorption spectroscopy. Ion signals attributed to benzene (C6H6) and other volatile gases (e.g., C7 – C9 aromatics) were measured via proton-transfer reaction time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Short-term whole facility emission rates for 12 sites are reported. Results from TFR were systematically higher than the sum of concurrent on-site full flow sampler measurements, though not all sources were assessed on-site in most cases. In downwind plumes, the mode of the C2H6:CH4 molar ratio distribution for all sites was 0.2, which agreed with spot sample analysis from the site operator. Distribution of C6H6:CH4 ratios was skew but values between 1 and 5 pptv ppbv-1 were common. Additionally, the aromatic profile has been attributed to condensate storage tank emissions. Average ratios of C7 – C9 to C6H6 were similar to other literature values reported for natural gas wells. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T01:38:20Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-94e1a79112dd455aa8c49b7ee4d025fa |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2590-1621 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T01:38:20Z |
| publishDate | 2023-08-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Atmospheric Environment: X |
| spelling | doaj.art-94e1a79112dd455aa8c49b7ee4d025fa2023-09-11T04:17:27ZengElsevierAtmospheric Environment: X2590-16212023-08-0119100220Quantification of natural gas and other hydrocarbons from production sites in northern West Virginia using tracer flux ratio methodologyConner Daube0Scott C. Herndon1Jordan E. Krechmer2Derek Johnson3Nigel Clark4Tracey L. Footer5Eben D. Thoma6Aerodyne Research, Inc., 45 Manning Road, Billerica, MA, 01821, United States; Corresponding author.Aerodyne Research, Inc., 45 Manning Road, Billerica, MA, 01821, United StatesAerodyne Research, Inc., 45 Manning Road, Billerica, MA, 01821, United StatesWest Virginia University, Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering, PO Box 6106, Morgantown, WV, 26506, United StatesWest Virginia University, Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering, PO Box 6106, Morgantown, WV, 26506, United StatesEastern Research Group, Inc., 601 Keystone Park Drive, Suite 700, Morrisville, NC, 27560, United StatesCenter for Environmental Measurement and Modeling, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, 27711, United StatesTracer flux ratio (TFR) methodology performed downwind of 15 active oil and natural gas production sites in Ohio County, West Virginia sought to quantify air pollutant emissions over two weeks in April 2018. In coordination with a production company, sites were randomly selected depending on wind forecasts and nearby road access. Methane (CH4), ethane (C2H6), and tracer gas compounds (acetylene and nitrous oxide) were measured via tunable infrared direct absorption spectroscopy. Ion signals attributed to benzene (C6H6) and other volatile gases (e.g., C7 – C9 aromatics) were measured via proton-transfer reaction time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Short-term whole facility emission rates for 12 sites are reported. Results from TFR were systematically higher than the sum of concurrent on-site full flow sampler measurements, though not all sources were assessed on-site in most cases. In downwind plumes, the mode of the C2H6:CH4 molar ratio distribution for all sites was 0.2, which agreed with spot sample analysis from the site operator. Distribution of C6H6:CH4 ratios was skew but values between 1 and 5 pptv ppbv-1 were common. Additionally, the aromatic profile has been attributed to condensate storage tank emissions. Average ratios of C7 – C9 to C6H6 were similar to other literature values reported for natural gas wells.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590162123000205MethaneOil and natural gas productionTracer releaseMobile laboratoryUnmanned aerial vehicleVolatile organic compounds |
| spellingShingle | Conner Daube Scott C. Herndon Jordan E. Krechmer Derek Johnson Nigel Clark Tracey L. Footer Eben D. Thoma Quantification of natural gas and other hydrocarbons from production sites in northern West Virginia using tracer flux ratio methodology Atmospheric Environment: X Methane Oil and natural gas production Tracer release Mobile laboratory Unmanned aerial vehicle Volatile organic compounds |
| title | Quantification of natural gas and other hydrocarbons from production sites in northern West Virginia using tracer flux ratio methodology |
| title_full | Quantification of natural gas and other hydrocarbons from production sites in northern West Virginia using tracer flux ratio methodology |
| title_fullStr | Quantification of natural gas and other hydrocarbons from production sites in northern West Virginia using tracer flux ratio methodology |
| title_full_unstemmed | Quantification of natural gas and other hydrocarbons from production sites in northern West Virginia using tracer flux ratio methodology |
| title_short | Quantification of natural gas and other hydrocarbons from production sites in northern West Virginia using tracer flux ratio methodology |
| title_sort | quantification of natural gas and other hydrocarbons from production sites in northern west virginia using tracer flux ratio methodology |
| topic | Methane Oil and natural gas production Tracer release Mobile laboratory Unmanned aerial vehicle Volatile organic compounds |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590162123000205 |
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