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Closing the methane gap in US oil and natural gas production emissions inventories

Author

Listed:
  • Jeffrey S. Rutherford

    (Stanford University)

  • Evan D. Sherwin

    (Stanford University)

  • Arvind P. Ravikumar

    (Harrisburg University of Science and Technology)

  • Garvin A. Heath

    (Joint Institute for Strategic Energy Analysis (JISEA), National Renewable Energy Laboratory)

  • Jacob Englander

    (California Air Resources Board)

  • Daniel Cooley

    (Colorado State University)

  • David Lyon

    (Environmental Defense Fund)

  • Mark Omara

    (Environmental Defense Fund)

  • Quinn Langfitt

    (California Air Resources Board)

  • Adam R. Brandt

    (Stanford University)

Abstract

Methane (CH4) emissions from oil and natural gas (O&NG) systems are an important contributor to greenhouse gas emissions. In the United States, recent synthesis studies of field measurements of CH4 emissions at different spatial scales are ~1.5–2× greater compared to official greenhouse gas inventory (GHGI) estimates, with the production-segment as the dominant contributor to this divergence. Based on an updated synthesis of measurements from component-level field studies, we develop a new inventory-based model for CH4 emissions, for the production-segment only, that agrees within error with recent syntheses of site-level field studies and allows for isolation of equipment-level contributions. We find that unintentional emissions from liquid storage tanks and other equipment leaks are the largest contributors to divergence with the GHGI. If our proposed method were adopted in the United States and other jurisdictions, inventory estimates could better guide CH4 mitigation policy priorities.

Suggested Citation

  • Jeffrey S. Rutherford & Evan D. Sherwin & Arvind P. Ravikumar & Garvin A. Heath & Jacob Englander & Daniel Cooley & David Lyon & Mark Omara & Quinn Langfitt & Adam R. Brandt, 2021. "Closing the methane gap in US oil and natural gas production emissions inventories," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 12(1), pages 1-12, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:12:y:2021:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-021-25017-4
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-25017-4
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    Cited by:

    1. Justin M. Bracci & Evan D. Sherwin & Naomi L. Boness & Adam R. Brandt, 2023. "A cost comparison of various hourly-reliable and net-zero hydrogen production pathways in the United States," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-13, December.
    2. John E. T. Bistline & David T. Young, 2022. "The role of natural gas in reaching net-zero emissions in the electric sector," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-11, December.
    3. Mark Omara & Daniel Zavala-Araiza & David R. Lyon & Benjamin Hmiel & Katherine A. Roberts & Steven P. Hamburg, 2022. "Methane emissions from US low production oil and natural gas well sites," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-10, December.

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