An exploratory study of air emissions associated with shale gas development and production in the Barnett Shale

Abstract

Information regarding air emissions from shale gas development and production is critically important given production is now occurring in highly urbanized areas across the United States. Methane, the primary shale gas constituent, contributes substantially to climate change; other natural gas constituents are known to have adverse health effects. This study goes beyond previous Barnett Shale field studies by encompassing a wider variety of production equipment (wells, tanks, compressors, and separators) and a wider geographical region. The principal components analysis, unique to this study, provides valuable information regarding the ability to anticipate associated shale gas chemical constituents.

Mobile measurement of methane and hydrogen sulfide at natural gas production site fence lines in the Texas Barnett Shale

“…Our study differs from the TCEQ (2010), Zielinska et al (2010), and Rich et al (2014) studies in that our study includes a larger number of sites, but is more limited in terms of compounds analyzed. As a mobile measurement survey, our study emphasized geographic breadth of measurement.…”

“…In the Barnett Shale, ambient measurement studies of air pollutants associated with natural gas drilling and production have been conducted by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (2010), Zielinska et al (2010), and Rich et al (2014). In response to public complaints and health concerns, the TCEQ conducted ambient air quality monitoring of VOCs and reduced sulfides in Denton, Wise, Parker, Hood, Johnson, and Tarrant counties in three phases during August, October, andNovember 2009 (TCEQ, 2010).…”

“…For all hydrocarbons, motor vehicle emissions were estimated to contribute 46%, and natural gas and condensate tank emissions were estimated to contribute 43%, with the remainder attributed to small gasoline engines. Rich et al (2014) conducted 24-hr Summa canister sampling at 36 sites in six counties in the Barnett Shale, resulting in 50 sets of data for statistical analysis. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis was used to identify methane, other hydrocarbons, and reduced sulfides, not including hydrogen sulfide.…”

Valuation of expectations: A hedonic study of shale gas development and New York’s moratorium

“…In addition, recent research has shown increased air pollution in areas close to shale gas extraction and processing infrastructure (e.g., Litovitz et al, 2013;Rich et al, 2014). Increased air pollution associated with shale gas development may have significant public health implications (e.g., McKenzie et al, 2012).…”

Analysis of local-scale background concentrations of methane and other gas-phase species in the Marcellus Shale

“…Emissions of VOC, CO, NO x , and ultrafine PM have been reported from several stages of the shale gas production sector (i.e. active well pads, compressor stations, and processing facilities) (Goetz et al, 2015;Pekney et al, 2014;Rich et al, 2014;Warneke et al, 2014).…”