Natural gas fugitive emissions rates constrained by global atmospheric methane and ethane. 2014

Stefan Schwietzke, and W Michael Griffin, and H Scott Matthews, and Lori M P Bruhwiler
Department of Engineering and Public Policy, Carnegie Mellon University , Baker Hall 129, 5000 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213, United States.

The amount of methane emissions released by the natural gas (NG) industry is a critical and uncertain value for various industry and policy decisions, such as for determining the climate implications of using NG over coal. Previous studies have estimated fugitive emissions rates (FER)--the fraction of produced NG (mainly methane and ethane) escaped to the atmosphere--between 1 and 9%. Most of these studies rely on few and outdated measurements, and some may represent only temporal/regional NG industry snapshots. This study estimates NG industry representative FER using global atmospheric methane and ethane measurements over three decades, and literature ranges of (i) tracer gas atmospheric lifetimes, (ii) non-NG source estimates, and (iii) fossil fuel fugitive gas hydrocarbon compositions. The modeling suggests an upper bound global average FER of 5% during 2006-2011, and a most likely FER of 2-4% since 2000, trending downward. These results do not account for highly uncertain natural hydrocarbon seepage, which could lower the FER. Further emissions reductions by the NG industry may be needed to ensure climate benefits over coal during the next few decades.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008697 Methane The simplest saturated hydrocarbon. It is a colorless, flammable gas, slightly soluble in water. It is one of the chief constituents of natural gas and is formed in the decomposition of organic matter. (Grant & Hackh's Chemical Dictionary, 5th ed)
D008962 Models, Theoretical Theoretical representations that simulate the behavior or activity of systems, processes, or phenomena. They include the use of mathematical equations, computers, and other electronic equipment. Experimental Model,Experimental Models,Mathematical Model,Model, Experimental,Models (Theoretical),Models, Experimental,Models, Theoretic,Theoretical Study,Mathematical Models,Model (Theoretical),Model, Mathematical,Model, Theoretical,Models, Mathematical,Studies, Theoretical,Study, Theoretical,Theoretical Model,Theoretical Models,Theoretical Studies
D003031 Coal A natural fuel formed by partial decomposition of vegetable matter under certain environmental conditions. Anthracite,Bituminous Coal,Brown Coal,Lignite,Lignitious Coal,Peat Coal,Soft Coal,Anthracites,Bituminous Coals,Brown Coals,Coal, Bituminous,Coal, Brown,Coal, Lignitious,Coal, Peat,Coal, Soft,Coals,Coals, Bituminous,Coals, Brown,Coals, Lignitious,Coals, Peat,Coals, Soft,Lignites,Lignitious Coals,Peat Coals,Soft Coals
D004560 Electricity The physical effects involving the presence of electric charges at rest and in motion.
D004736 Energy-Generating Resources Materials or phenomena which can provide energy directly or via conversion. Primary Energy Resource,Primary Energy Resources,Secondary Energy Resources,Energy Generating Resources,Energy Resource, Primary,Energy Resource, Secondary,Energy Resources, Primary,Energy Resources, Secondary,Energy-Generating Resource,Resource, Energy-Generating,Resource, Primary Energy,Resource, Secondary Energy,Resources, Energy-Generating,Resources, Primary Energy,Resources, Secondary Energy,Secondary Energy Resource
D004980 Ethane A two carbon alkane with the formula H3C-CH3.
D000393 Air Pollutants Any substance in the air which could, if present in high enough concentration, harm humans, animals, vegetation or materials. Substances include GASES; PARTICULATE MATTER; and volatile ORGANIC CHEMICALS. Air Pollutant,Air Pollutants, Environmental,Environmental Air Pollutants,Environmental Pollutants, Air,Air Environmental Pollutants,Pollutant, Air,Pollutants, Air,Pollutants, Air Environmental,Pollutants, Environmental Air
D001272 Atmosphere The gaseous envelope surrounding a planet or similar body. (From Random House Unabridged Dictionary, 2d ed) Atmospheres
D017752 Greenhouse Effect The effect of GREENHOUSE GASES and the resulting increase in world temperatures. The predicted health effects of such long-term climatic change include increased incidence of respiratory, water-borne, and vector-borne diseases. Effect, Greenhouse
D059206 Natural Gas A combustible, gaseous mixture of low-molecular weight PARAFFIN hydrocarbons, generated below the surface of the earth. It contains mostly METHANE and ETHANE with small amounts of PROPANE; BUTANES; and higher hydrocarbons, and sometimes NITROGEN; CARBON DIOXIDE; HYDROGEN SULFIDE; and HELIUM. (from McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific and Technical Terms, 6th ed) Gas, Natural,Shale Gas,Gas, Shale

Related Publications

Stefan Schwietzke, and W Michael Griffin, and H Scott Matthews, and Lori M P Bruhwiler
August 2007, Journal of environmental management,
Stefan Schwietzke, and W Michael Griffin, and H Scott Matthews, and Lori M P Bruhwiler
November 2022, Huan jing ke xue= Huanjing kexue,
Stefan Schwietzke, and W Michael Griffin, and H Scott Matthews, and Lori M P Bruhwiler
June 2016, Environmental pollution (Barking, Essex : 1987),
Stefan Schwietzke, and W Michael Griffin, and H Scott Matthews, and Lori M P Bruhwiler
March 2016, The Science of the total environment,
Stefan Schwietzke, and W Michael Griffin, and H Scott Matthews, and Lori M P Bruhwiler
May 2017, Environmental science & technology,
Stefan Schwietzke, and W Michael Griffin, and H Scott Matthews, and Lori M P Bruhwiler
December 2022, Environmental science & technology,
Stefan Schwietzke, and W Michael Griffin, and H Scott Matthews, and Lori M P Bruhwiler
November 2022, Scientific reports,
Stefan Schwietzke, and W Michael Griffin, and H Scott Matthews, and Lori M P Bruhwiler
October 2019, Scientific reports,
Stefan Schwietzke, and W Michael Griffin, and H Scott Matthews, and Lori M P Bruhwiler
August 2012, Nature,
Stefan Schwietzke, and W Michael Griffin, and H Scott Matthews, and Lori M P Bruhwiler
September 2022, Waste management (New York, N.Y.),
Copied contents to your clipboard!