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

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

The Marcellus Shale is a rapidly developing unconventional natural gas resource found in part of the Appalachian region. Air quality and climate concerns have been raised regarding development of unconventional natural gas resources. Two ground-based mobile measurement campaigns were conducted to as...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Elementa (Washington, D.C.) Vol. 5
Main Authors: Goetz, J. Douglas, Avery, Anita, Werden, Ben, Floerchinger, Cody, Fortner, Edward C., Wormhoudt, Joda, Massoli, Paola, Herndon, Scott C., Kolb, Charles E., Knighton, W. Berk, Peischl, Jeff, Warneke, Carsten, de Gouw, Joost A., Shaw, Stephanie L., DeCarlo, Peter F.
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: Oakland University of California Press, Journals & Digital Publishing Division 01-02-2017
BioOne
Subjects:
Air masses
Air pollution
Air quality
Benzene
Carbon monoxide
climate change
Emissions
Environmental monitoring
Ethane
Fractions
Gases
Hazardous air pollutants
hydraulic fracturing
Laboratories
Methane
Natural gas
Natural gas exploration
Natural gas industry
Natural resources
Nitrogen dioxide
Organic compounds
Pollutants
Shale
Shale gas
Shales
Summer
Toluene
VOCs
Volatile organic compounds
United States > US
Pennsylvania
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Summary:The Marcellus Shale is a rapidly developing unconventional natural gas resource found in part of the Appalachian region. Air quality and climate concerns have been raised regarding development of unconventional natural gas resources. Two ground-based mobile measurement campaigns were conducted to assess the impact of Marcellus Shale natural gas development on local scale atmospheric background concentrations of air pollution and climate relevant pollutants in Pennsylvania. The first campaign took place in Northeastern and Southwestern PA in the summer of 2012. Compounds monitored included methane (CH4), ethane, carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen dioxide, and Proton Transfer Reaction Mass Spectrometer (PTR-MS) measured volatile organic compounds (VOC) including oxygenated and aromatic VOC. The second campaign took place in Northeastern PA in the summer of 2015. The mobile monitoring data were analyzed using interval percentile smoothing to remove bias from local unmixed emissions to isolate local-scale background concentrations. Comparisons were made to other ambient monitoring in the Marcellus region including a NOAA SENEX flight in 2013. Local background CH4 mole fractions were 140 ppbv greater in Southwestern PA compared to Northeastern PA in 2012 and background CH4 increased 100 ppbv from 2012 to 2015. CH4 local background mole fractions were not found to have a detectable relationship between well density or production rates in either region. In Northeastern PA, CO was observed to decrease 75 ppbv over the three year period. Toluene to benzene ratios in both study regions were found to be most similar to aged rural air masses indicating that the emission of aromatic VOC from Marcellus Shale activity may not be significantly impacting local background concentrations. In addition to understanding local background concentrations the ground-based mobile measurements were useful for investigating the composition of natural gas emissions in the region.
ISSN:2325-1026
2325-1026
DOI:10.1525/elementa.182