Goetz, J. Douglas, et. al., "Atmospheric Emission Characterization of Marcellus Shale Natural Gas Development Sites," Environmental Science and Technology, April 21, 2015, Accessed November 15, 2015, doi: 10.1021/acs.est.5b00452.
Abstract: "Real-time measurements were made with the Aerodyne Research Inc. Mobile Laboratory to characterize emission rates of atmospheric pollutants. In contrast to observations from other shale plays, elevated volatile organic compounds, other than CH4 and C2H6, were generally not observed at the investigated sites. Elevated submicrometer particle mass concentrations were also generally not observed. Emission rates from compressor stations ranged from 0.006 to 0.162 tons per day (tpd) for NOx, 0.029 to 0.426 tpd for CO, and 67.9 to 371 tpd for CO2. CH4 and C2H6 emission rates from compressor stations ranged from 0.411 to 4.936 tpd and 0.023 to 0.062 tpd, respectively. Although limited in sample size, this study provides emission rate estimates for some processes in a newly developed natural gas resource and contributes valuable comparisons to other shale gas studies."
Where do the authors work, and what are their areas of expertise? Note any other publications by the authors with relevance to the 6Cities project.
J. Douglas Goetz
Department of Civil, Architectural, and Environmental Engineering, Drexel University
Focuses on socioeconomic, population, and environmental data from 221 US counties (including Philadelphia) to find the relationship between PM air pollution and mortality.
Implemented an innovative power resource, evaluated the effect on air quality in the Northeast. Area includes Philadelphia.
Stephanie L. Shaw
Electric Power Research Institute
Peter F. DeCarlo
Department of Chemistry and Department of Civil, Architectural, and Environmental Engineering, Drexel University, Aerodyne Research, Inc.
What are the main findings or arguments presented in the article or report?
There were not many light VOC's found at the sites measured. CH3OH was found at one compressor site.
Compressors had the highest concentrations of the organic compounds (CH4, CO, NOx, CO2))
Produced different VOC and PM emission rates but similar NOx to Litovitz, et al (This is another paper I have annotated)
I do not feel like this report added much new information about the Marcellus Shale emissions.
Describe at least three ways that the argument is supported.
Through analysis description and quantified results.
The method of measuring without access within the region was innovative and new.
Through comparison to other results, not always supporting!
Through measurements of 3 types of sites: active wells, inactive wells, and compression stations.
What three (or more) quotes capture the message of the article or report?
"Compressor stations and transient sites (e.g., drill site and completion) were observed to be the largest emitters of most of the measured species (i.e., CH4, CO, NOx, CO2), followed by producing well sites. Production well pads were expected to have the lowest emissions because they have fewer potential emissions sources (e.g., combustion sources) compared to other site types, and handle lower volumes of NG compared to compressor stations."
"Emission rates from compressor stations ranged from 0.006 to 0.162 tons per day (tpd) for NOx, 0.029 to 0.426 tpd for CO, and 67.9 to 371 tpd for CO2. CH4 and C2H6 emission rates from compressor stations ranged from 0.411 to 4.936 tpd and 0.023 to 0.062 tpd, respectively"
"The low emission of nonalkane VOC in the Marcellus play indicates that emission estimates should not be generalized across shale plays in regional models or in emission inventories."
What were the methods, tools and/or data used to produce the claims or arguments made in the article or report?
Sampling locations within the Marcellus Shale Region: Southwest PA (dry and wet gas, CH4 and other hydrocarbons), Northeast Pennsylvania (dry gas, CH4).
Site selection (compressor stations, recently evacuated wells, and active wells) decided based on "topography and drive time," not observed air quality.
Lamb et al methods chosen to find tracer release ratios and convert to rate of emission of a pollutant at each site. Some sites were tested multiple times (details below on the sites and testing information.
TSI Condensation Particle Counter 3022 (particulates)
Aerodyne Research Inc. Soot-Particle Aerosol Mass Spectrometer (SP-AMS) (PM1)
Proton-Transfer Reaction Mass Spectrometer (PTR-MS) (HAPs and other emissions via natural gas procedures, all measured by this tool listed below)
Analysis of the measured data was performed with the Aerodyne Research Inc. Mobile Laboratory which was "equipped with high precision GPS and meteorological instruments to establish position, bearing, driving speed, wind direction, wind speed, temperature, pressure, and other parameters necessary for data analysis."
Measuring tracer release ratio: A top of a pickup truck emitted N2O and C2H2 at a controlled pace, aimed to be in line with the site's plume release and downwind. "The resulting downwind source and dual tracer plume measurements above the background were used to estimate the emission rate of pollution species at each site."
This method can evaluate point source pollution well.
Calculating Emission rate: Two methods
"The first technique utilizes an orthogonal distance linear regression analysis of the downwind plume Δppbv values of the source emission versus the downwind plume Δppbv values of the dual tracer to determine the emission ratio of emitted pollutant species to tracer for each plume intercept (Figure 1c)."
"The second technique utilizes the downwind plume-integrated mixing ratios (Δppbv·s) of the source emission and the tracer to determine an emission ratio for each plume intercept at each site (Figure 1b)."
An average of these results was used: Site emission rate=tracer release rate x avg. emission ratio
Applied correction factor to address inaccuracy of measurement using the pickup truck instead of being onsite, measuring from the plume
Site emission rate = Tracer release rate x Avg. emission ratio x Correction factor
(Correction factors are in Table 1)
How (if at all) are health disparities or other equity issues addressed in the article or report?
Health disparities can be implied because of the pollutant emissions measured. Those who are exposed to the emissions are harmed.
Where has this article or report been referenced or discussed? (In some journals, you can see this in a sidebar.)
Can you learn anything from the article or report’s bibliography that tells us something about how the article or report was produced?
Lots of sources are specific studies of the Marcellus shale.
Cites a few government sources. Possibly influenced the results or procedures that were used (PA DEP).
Cites a few intra-national papers (Utah) and international papers (Mexico).
What three points, details or references from the text did you follow up on to advance your understanding of how air pollution science has been produced and used in governance and education in different settings?
Largely used for publications about fracking emissions
"Research and commercial instruments are installed into the Mobile Laboratory to collect data while in motion for plume characterization, area mapping or portable deployment for photochemistry and transport experiments."
Report refers to major studies. Shows a scientific study like this one could be used to back up policy.
Found a map of the Marcellus Shale across Pennsylvania
The oil drilling can occur pretty close to Philadelphia if desired.
A notable group of environmental health researchers and advocates now argue for making air pollution knowledge more actionable by tightening its resolution, leveraging diverse data types (potentially including citizen science) and new capacity in data analytics.
A research group from Drexel University collaborated in order to test emissions at different steps of hydraulic fracturing steps of the Marcellus Shale. For data analytics and measurements, they used the Aerodyne Research Inc. Mobile Laboratory which was "equipped with high precision GPS and meteorological instruments to establish position, bearing, driving speed, wind direction, wind speed, temperature, pressure, and other parameters necessary for data analysis." They were not able to get access to the direct plume emissions because of lack of permission, but were able to incorporate meteorology and wind modeling to measure the data needed and approximate for the difference.
Goetz, J. Douglas, et. al., "Atmospheric Emission Characterization of Marcellus Shale Natural Gas Development Sites," Environmental Science and Technology, April 21, 2015, Accessed November 15, 2015, doi: 10.1021/acs.est.5b00452.
Abstract:
"Real-time measurements were made with the Aerodyne Research Inc. Mobile Laboratory to characterize emission rates of atmospheric pollutants. In contrast to observations from other shale plays, elevated volatile organic compounds, other than CH4 and C2H6, were generally not observed at the investigated sites. Elevated submicrometer particle mass concentrations were also generally not observed. Emission rates from compressor stations ranged from 0.006 to 0.162 tons per day (tpd) for NOx, 0.029 to 0.426 tpd for CO, and 67.9 to 371 tpd for CO2. CH4 and C2H6 emission rates from compressor stations ranged from 0.411 to 4.936 tpd and 0.023 to 0.062 tpd, respectively. Although limited in sample size, this study provides emission rate estimates for some processes in a newly developed natural gas resource and contributes valuable comparisons to other shale gas studies."
Where do the authors work, and what are their areas of expertise? Note any other publications by the authors with relevance to the 6Cities project.
- J. Douglas Goetz
- Department of Civil, Architectural, and Environmental Engineering, Drexel University
- Cody Floerchinger
- Aerodyne Research, Inc
- Mobile Measurements of Leaks Associated with Oil and Gas Development and the Impact on Air Quality
- Analysis of air quality measurements around fracking sites across the country
- Marcellus Shale included
- Couldn't find the full article, just the abstract.
- Edward C. Fortner
- Aerodyne Research, Inc
- Fine-Particulate Air Pollution and Life Expectancy in the United States
- Focuses on socioeconomic, population, and environmental data from 221 US counties (including Philadelphia) to find the relationship between PM air pollution and mortality.
- Joda Wormhoudt
- Aerodyne Research, Inc
- Article Prev. Article Next Article Table of Contents Real-Time Measurements of Nitrogen Oxide Emissions from In-Use New York City Transit Buses Using a Chase Vehicle
- Tests transit bus emissions in NYC without them knowing ("chase vehicle")
- Posted in the NYC page
- Paola Massoli
- Aerodyne Research, Inc
- W. Berk Knighton
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Montana State University
- Scott C. Herndon
- Aerodyne Research, Inc
- Charles E. Kolb
- Aerodyne Research, Inc
- Eladio Knipping
- Electric Power Research Institute
- Air Quality Impacts of Distributed Energy Resources Implemented in the Northeastern United States
- Implemented an innovative power resource, evaluated the effect on air quality in the Northeast. Area includes Philadelphia.
- Stephanie L. Shaw
- Electric Power Research Institute
- Peter F. DeCarlo
- Department of Chemistry and Department of Civil, Architectural, and Environmental Engineering, Drexel University, Aerodyne Research, Inc.
What are the main findings or arguments presented in the article or report?- There were not many light VOC's found at the sites measured. CH3OH was found at one compressor site.
- Compressors had the highest concentrations of the organic compounds (CH4, CO, NOx, CO2))
- Produced different VOC and PM emission rates but similar NOx to Litovitz, et al (This is another paper I have annotated)
- I do not feel like this report added much new information about the Marcellus Shale emissions.
Describe at least three ways that the argument is supported.- Through analysis description and quantified results.
- The method of measuring without access within the region was innovative and new.
- Through comparison to other results, not always supporting!
- Through measurements of 3 types of sites: active wells, inactive wells, and compression stations.
What three (or more) quotes capture the message of the article or report?- "Compressor stations and transient sites (e.g., drill site and completion) were observed to be the largest emitters of most of the measured species (i.e., CH4, CO, NOx, CO2), followed by producing well sites. Production well pads were expected to have the lowest emissions because they have fewer potential emissions sources (e.g., combustion sources) compared to other site types, and handle lower volumes of NG compared to compressor stations."
- "Emission rates from compressor stations ranged from 0.006 to 0.162 tons per day (tpd) for NOx, 0.029 to 0.426 tpd for CO, and 67.9 to 371 tpd for CO2. CH4 and C2H6 emission rates from compressor stations ranged from 0.411 to 4.936 tpd and 0.023 to 0.062 tpd, respectively"
- "The low emission of nonalkane VOC in the Marcellus play indicates that emission estimates should not be generalized across shale plays in regional models or in emission inventories."
What were the methods, tools and/or data used to produce the claims or arguments made in the article or report?- Sampling locations within the Marcellus Shale Region: Southwest PA (dry and wet gas, CH4 and other hydrocarbons), Northeast Pennsylvania (dry gas, CH4).
- Site selection (compressor stations, recently evacuated wells, and active wells) decided based on "topography and drive time," not observed air quality.
- Lamb et al methods chosen to find tracer release ratios and convert to rate of emission of a pollutant at each site. Some sites were tested multiple times (details below on the sites and testing information.
- Appliances used:
- Quantum Cascade Laser (QCL) Trace Gas Monitors (CH4, C2H6, C2H2, CO, N2O)
- Thermo Scientific 42i NO/NO2 Monitor (NOx)
- Cavity Attenuated Phase Shift NO2 Monitor (NO2)
- Licor 6262 CO2 monitor (CO2)
- TSI Condensation Particle Counter 3022 (particulates)
- Aerodyne Research Inc. Soot-Particle Aerosol Mass Spectrometer (SP-AMS) (PM1)
- Proton-Transfer Reaction Mass Spectrometer (PTR-MS) (HAPs and other emissions via natural gas procedures, all measured by this tool listed below)
- Analysis of the measured data was performed with the Aerodyne Research Inc. Mobile Laboratory which was "equipped with high precision GPS and meteorological instruments to establish position, bearing, driving speed, wind direction, wind speed, temperature, pressure, and other parameters necessary for data analysis."
- Measuring tracer release ratio: A top of a pickup truck emitted N2O and C2H2 at a controlled pace, aimed to be in line with the site's plume release and downwind. "The resulting downwind source and dual tracer plume measurements above the background were used to estimate the emission rate of pollution species at each site."
- This method can evaluate point source pollution well.
- Calculating Emission rate: Two methods
- "The first technique utilizes an orthogonal distance linear regression analysis of the downwind plume Δppbv values of the source emission versus the downwind plume Δppbv values of the dual tracer to determine the emission ratio of emitted pollutant species to tracer for each plume intercept (Figure 1c)."
- "The second technique utilizes the downwind plume-integrated mixing ratios (Δppbv·s) of the source emission and the tracer to determine an emission ratio for each plume intercept at each site (Figure 1b)."
- An average of these results was used: Site emission rate=tracer release rate x avg. emission ratio
- Applied correction factor to address inaccuracy of measurement using the pickup truck instead of being onsite, measuring from the plume
- Site emission rate = Tracer release rate x Avg. emission ratio x Correction factor
- (Correction factors are in Table 1)
How (if at all) are health disparities or other equity issues addressed in the article or report?- Health disparities can be implied because of the pollutant emissions measured. Those who are exposed to the emissions are harmed.
Where has this article or report been referenced or discussed? (In some journals, you can see this in a sidebar.)- It has been cited in a paper called Measurements of methane emissions from natural gas gathering facilities and processing plants: measurement methods, which used the same tracer method.
Can you learn anything from the article or report’s bibliography that tells us something about how the article or report was produced?- Lots of sources are specific studies of the Marcellus shale.
- Cites a few government sources. Possibly influenced the results or procedures that were used (PA DEP).
- Cites a few intra-national papers (Utah) and international papers (Mexico).
What three points, details or references from the text did you follow up on to advance your understanding of how air pollution science has been produced and used in governance and education in different settings?