Gathering Pipeline Methane Emissions in Utica Shale Using an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle and Ground-Based Mobile Sampling
The United States Environmental Protection Agency Greenhouse Gas Inventory only recently updated the emission factors of natural gas gathering pipelines in April 2019 from the previous estimates based on a 1990s study of distribution pipelines. Additional measurements are needed from different basin...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2020-07-01
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| Series: | Atmosphere |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/11/7/716 |
| _version_ | 1797563314010587136 |
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| author | Hugh Z. Li Mumbi Mundia-Howe Matthew D. Reeder Natalie J. Pekney |
| author_facet | Hugh Z. Li Mumbi Mundia-Howe Matthew D. Reeder Natalie J. Pekney |
| author_sort | Hugh Z. Li |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The United States Environmental Protection Agency Greenhouse Gas Inventory only recently updated the emission factors of natural gas gathering pipelines in April 2019 from the previous estimates based on a 1990s study of distribution pipelines. Additional measurements are needed from different basins for more accurate assessments of methane emissions from natural gas midstream industries and hence the overall climate implications of natural gas as the interim major energy source for the next decade. We conducted an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) survey and a ground-based vehicle sampling campaign targeting gathering pipeline systems in the Utica Shale from March to April in 2019. Out of 73 km of pipeline systems surveyed, we found no leaks on pipelines and two leaks on an accessory block valve with leak rates of 3.8 ± 0.4 and 7.6 ± 0.8 mg/s. The low leak frequency phenomenon was also observed in the only existing gathering pipeline study in Fayetteville Shale. The UAV sampling system facilitated ease of access, broadened the availability of pipelines for leak detection, and was estimated to detect methane leaks down to 0.07 g/s using Gaussian dispersion modeling. For future UAV surveys adopting similar instrument setup and dispersion models, we recommend arranging controlled release experiments first to understand the system’s detection limit and choosing sampling days with steady and low wind speeds (2 m/s). |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T18:40:54Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c085c608fd0047fb8e36d80003c38425 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4433 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T18:40:54Z |
| publishDate | 2020-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Atmosphere |
| spelling | doaj.art-c085c608fd0047fb8e36d80003c384252023-11-20T05:53:55ZengMDPI AGAtmosphere2073-44332020-07-0111771610.3390/atmos11070716Gathering Pipeline Methane Emissions in Utica Shale Using an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle and Ground-Based Mobile SamplingHugh Z. Li0Mumbi Mundia-Howe1Matthew D. Reeder2Natalie J. Pekney3Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, National Energy Technology Laboratory, Pittsburgh, PA 15236, USALeidos, National Energy Technology Laboratory, Pittsburgh, PA 15236, USALeidos, National Energy Technology Laboratory, Pittsburgh, PA 15236, USAU.S. Department of Energy, National Energy Technology Laboratory, Pittsburgh, PA 15236, USAThe United States Environmental Protection Agency Greenhouse Gas Inventory only recently updated the emission factors of natural gas gathering pipelines in April 2019 from the previous estimates based on a 1990s study of distribution pipelines. Additional measurements are needed from different basins for more accurate assessments of methane emissions from natural gas midstream industries and hence the overall climate implications of natural gas as the interim major energy source for the next decade. We conducted an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) survey and a ground-based vehicle sampling campaign targeting gathering pipeline systems in the Utica Shale from March to April in 2019. Out of 73 km of pipeline systems surveyed, we found no leaks on pipelines and two leaks on an accessory block valve with leak rates of 3.8 ± 0.4 and 7.6 ± 0.8 mg/s. The low leak frequency phenomenon was also observed in the only existing gathering pipeline study in Fayetteville Shale. The UAV sampling system facilitated ease of access, broadened the availability of pipelines for leak detection, and was estimated to detect methane leaks down to 0.07 g/s using Gaussian dispersion modeling. For future UAV surveys adopting similar instrument setup and dispersion models, we recommend arranging controlled release experiments first to understand the system’s detection limit and choosing sampling days with steady and low wind speeds (2 m/s).https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/11/7/716natural gasmethane emissionsUAVmobile samplingGaussian dispersion |
| spellingShingle | Hugh Z. Li Mumbi Mundia-Howe Matthew D. Reeder Natalie J. Pekney Gathering Pipeline Methane Emissions in Utica Shale Using an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle and Ground-Based Mobile Sampling Atmosphere natural gas methane emissions UAV mobile sampling Gaussian dispersion |
| title | Gathering Pipeline Methane Emissions in Utica Shale Using an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle and Ground-Based Mobile Sampling |
| title_full | Gathering Pipeline Methane Emissions in Utica Shale Using an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle and Ground-Based Mobile Sampling |
| title_fullStr | Gathering Pipeline Methane Emissions in Utica Shale Using an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle and Ground-Based Mobile Sampling |
| title_full_unstemmed | Gathering Pipeline Methane Emissions in Utica Shale Using an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle and Ground-Based Mobile Sampling |
| title_short | Gathering Pipeline Methane Emissions in Utica Shale Using an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle and Ground-Based Mobile Sampling |
| title_sort | gathering pipeline methane emissions in utica shale using an unmanned aerial vehicle and ground based mobile sampling |
| topic | natural gas methane emissions UAV mobile sampling Gaussian dispersion |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/11/7/716 |
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