EPA/6QO/A-94/086


                                                                                      92-142.06
RCN #275-026-62-04
                         Methane Emissions from the Natural Gas Industry:
                              Production and Transmission Emissions
                                          Prepared for:

                              Air and Waste Management Association
                                          Prepared by:

                                      Matthew R. Harrison
                                       Radian Corporation
                                        8501 Mopac Blvd.
                                        P. O. Box 201088
                                      Austin, TX 78720-1088
                                           1 May 1992

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                                                                                           92-142.06

INTRODUCTION
The Gas Research Institute (GRI) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have co-funded a
project to quantify methane emissions to the atmosphere resulting from operations in the natural gas
industry. The results of the study will measure or calculate all methane emissions, from production at the
well and up to, but not including, the point of  final use. When these data are combined with those of other
studies that quantify greenhouse gas emissions from methane  consumers (i.e., various combustion sources), a
definitive comparison of the relative environmental effects  of using methane versus other fuels will be
possible.

The methane emissions project is being executed in three phases:  Phases 1 and 2 identified all potential
emitting sources and then established methods for measuring  or calculating emissions from those sources.
Phase 3 will gather statistical samples of data to complete  the extrapolation to national  estimates.  An
accuracy target of ± 100 billion standard cubic  feet  (Bscf)  per  year of calculated emissions has been
established.

Currently, Phase 2 of the project is complete, and Phase 3 is beginning  This report presents the methods
and preliminary conclusions from Phases 1 and 2 as well as the plans for completing Phase 3.  Some
calculations have been completed in Phase 2 and, although the calculations are not yet based on statistically
significant data, some preliminary conclusions  can be drawn.  The purpose of this paper is to describe the
methodology  and sources of emissions  and present the current estimate of methane emissions from the
production and transmission phases of  the natural gas industry.

BACKGROUND
Global warming or "the greenhouse effect" is an anticipated global climate change caused by the
accumulation of energy-absorbing gases in the atmosphere. As trace gases (such as COj, Cr^, N>O, and
CFCs) that absorb energy at various wavelengths accumulate,  it is anticipated that the radiative properties of
the Earth's atmosphere will change, and more heat will be trapped in the atmosphere.  The relative impacts
of several greenhouse gases can be seen by comparing the Radiative Forcing Potential of the gases, as shown
in Table I.  It is predicted that the greenhouse effect will have a significant impact on the global environment
and economy, and it is a worldwide concern.

Many of the anthropogenic sources of greenhouse gases are directly related to energy production and
consumption. The combustion of all types of fuels generates  greenhouse gases (COX, l^O,  hydrocarbons),
but some fuels produce more  greenhouse gas products than others. Table II shows the relative amount of
one combustion product, COi, produced by various fuels.  Some fuels, like methane, produce fewer
greenhouse gas combustion products but may  emit unburned  fuel directly to the atmosphere through leaks
wherever the fuel is handled.

The types of  greenhouse gases and the sources of greenhouse gas emissions are diverse. Some are natural,
some anthropogenic. Methane, for example, can be emitted from many sources: agriculture (rice paddies),
ruminant animals, animal and municipal waste management facilities, coal  mining, biomass burning, and
natural  ecosystems (tundra, swamps). The sources of concern in this report are natural gas production,
transmission, and distribution  systems.

RESULTS OF PHASE 1 AND PHASE 2 INVESTIGATIONS
Overview
In the natural gas system, methane is produced from oil or gas wells and routed via pipe to treatment
systems. The treated methane is then  compressed and sent via pipeline to the end users. The entire system
is designed to contain the methane, since it is  a valuable product and is a high-pressure gas. Nevertheless, a
small percentage of methane is emitted during the process.

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                 TABLE I.   Radiative forcing potentials for principal greenhouse gases.
Greenhouse Gases

Carbon dioxide
Methane (including indirect)
Nitrous oxide
CFC-12

20 yr.
1
63
210
7100
Time Horizon
100 yr.
1
21
290
7300

500 yr.
1
9
190
4500
Source: Ref. 1.
                  TABLE n.  Carbon dioxide emission rates for conventional fuel types.
                       Fuel
CQj Emission Rate (g C/109J)
                    Natural gas
                Crude oil-based fuck
                  Bituminous coal
           135-142
          18.2-20.d*
           23.7-23.9
  Ranges are attributable to product mix (i.e., gasoline vs. fuel oil and gasoline).
Source: Ref. 2.

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Methane emissions from the system can generally be grouped into two major categories:  Fugitive Emissions
and Vented Emissions. Fugitive emissions are slow, steady, and continuous losses of process fluid through
the sealing mechanism separating the fluid from the atmosphere. These losses are particularly common
around the moving parts of valve stems and pump shafts.  Although most individual equipment leaks are
small emission points compared to  typical process or storage vents, the large number of components makes
the aggregate emission rate a significant source of emissions.

Vented emissions are  all the remaining emissions that occur from the intentional or unintentional purging,
flaring, or releasing of methane during all phases of operations. Venting is a broad category that covers
numerous emission sources from normal operations, routine maintenance, and  upsets.  Vented emissions that
result from flaring count only the unhurried methane released because of incomplete combustion.

The initial results of the Phase 1 and  Phase 2 calculations can be seen in Table III, which shows the current
emissions estimates for the fugilive and the venting  categories under each natural gas system segment. The
methane emission rate for production, processing,and transmission systems is 167  Bscf per year,  or
approximately 81% of total natural gas industry emissions (205 Bscf). Distribution segment emissions are
discussed in a companion paper. All  of the subcategories used to calculate the summary numbers b Table
III are broken out in Table IV. Although emission  rates are not shown  for each subcategory, they have been
calculated and will be presented when completed during Phase 3.

Detailed  Categorizations
Calculation of the current  estimates for fugitive and vented emissions followed  various  approaches. The
following sections will explain the Phase 1 and Phase 2 approaches in detail.

       Fuotives.
       Overview - Fugitive methane emissions are estimated from equipment leak emission factors and
component counts for model plants.  The national estimate of methane emission from  the natural gas
industry then extends these estimates by factoring in population estimates (i.e., number of gas wellheads, or
number of gas plants) and average  emission rates.   The fugilive emission rate is summed for all component
types (valves, connections, compressor seals, relief valves, open-ended lines) and may involve multiple
streams.

        Phase 1 Efforts  - During the Phase 1 program, existing data on fugitive emissions were reviewed
from various  phases of natural gas  production and use.  A total of eight  studies were reviewed, and it was
found that most of the studies covered fugitive organic emissions and were  not concerned with methane
emissions.  Table V summarizes reports from the three major studies available during  this review.

API/Rockwetf: This study yielded probably the most comprehensive data currently available describing
fugitive hydrocarbon emissions from the oil and gas production and processing segment.  The study was
published in 1980 and included soap score screening of a total of 173,236 components.  A total of 8,466 leaks
were quantified for volumetric emission rate, and 1,914 chromatograms were obtained  for speciation.
Drawbacks of the API/Rockwell data include the questionable accuracy of soap score  screening, the
questionable validity of a large number of emission  factors, and the age  of the  data.

EPA/Radian (Gas Plants)4: This study combined data from two gas plants tested by API/Rockwell plus
four gas  plants  tested  by EPA/Radian.  The study provided correlation equations  for total hydrocarbon
(THC) emissions from valves, compressor seals, and pump seals.  It was published in 1982 and  included
Organic  Vapor Analyzer screening of 6,585 components. A total of 212 components were bagged, and leaks
were quantified using GC.  Drawbacks of the EPA/Radian data include the age of the data.

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                     TABLE III.  Current Phase 2 methane emission estimates.
                                                                                        92-142.06
                                  Category
                                                                                Percent of Total
                                                                                    Industry
                                                                                   Emissions
                                                                                      5.2
                                                                                      5.2
PRODUCTION (field production, gathering)

       Fugitives                                                                      I2L6
       Venting                                                                       26.6

PROCESSING PLANTS

       Fugitives
       Venting

TRANSMISSION (transmission pipelines and compressors, and gas storage facilities)

       Fugitives
       Venting

DISTRIBUTION (mains and service pipeline)

       Fugitives
       Venting
                                                                                     12.9
                                                                                     18.9
                                                                                     16.6
                                                                                      2.0
TOTAL

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                      TABLE IV. Production and transmission subcategories.
     Segment
Process Area     Emission Type
Process         Subcategory (Emitting
 Mode        Process or Component)
PRODUCTION     Field Production    Fugitives
                                     Venting
                               Normal         Gas Wells
                               Operation      Oil Wells
                                              Field Separation Equipment
                               Normal         Drilling and Completion
                               Operation      Flaring
                                              Compressor Engine Exhaust
                                              Pneumatic Device Vents
                                              Gas Letdown Pump Vents
                                              Dehydrator Vents
                                              AGR Vents
                                              Tank Vents
Routine
Maintenance

System
Upsets

PRODUCTION Gathering Lines Fugitives Normal
Operation


Venting Normal
Operation

Routine
Maintenance

Upsets

PRODUCTION Gas Plants Fugitives Normal
Operation


Well Maintenance
Surface Equip. Maintenance
Pressure Relief Discharge
Overflow Tank Vents
Pipeline Leaks
Compressor Stations
Metering and Pressure
Regulator
Compressor Engine Exhaust
Pneumatic Device Vents
Pipeline Blow and Purge
Drip Blow and Purge
Relief Valve Operation
Dig-Ins
Cryogenic
Refrigerated Adsorption
Refrigeration
                                                                                 (Continued)

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TABLE IV. (Continued)
                                               92-142.06
Process
Segment Process Area Emission Type Mode
PRODUCTION,
Coot'd
Venting Normal
Operation


Routine
Maintenance

Upsets
TRANSMISSION Pipelines and Fugitives Normal
Compressors Operation


Venting Normal
Operation

Routine
Maintenance


Upsets

TRANSMISSION Gas Storage Fugitives Normal
Operation
Venting Normal
Operation

Routine
Maintenance

Subcategory (Emitting
Process or Component)
Others
Compressor Engine Exhaust
Pneumatic Devices
Dehydrator Vents
Vessel Slowdown
Compressor Start/Stop
Pressure Relief Discharge
Pipeline Leaks
Compressor Stations
Metering and Pressure
Regulator
Compressor Engine Exhaust
Pneumatic Device Vents
Pipeline Blow aad Purge
Drip Blow and Purge
Dehydrator Blow and Purge
Relief Valve Operation
Dig-Ins
-
Pneumatic Device Vents
Compressor Engine Exhaust
Vessel Purge and Slowdown
Well Workover

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                                       TABLE V. Summary of fugitive emission reports reviewed.
        Sponsor/Contractor
Publication Date
Number of
Sites Tested
 Sources
Screened
Sources
Bagged
Test Methodology
         API/Rockwell Intl.
  March 1980
    21'
 173,236
         EPA/Radian Corp.
   July 1982
     4C
  6,585
co   MMS/ABB Environmental
     1991'
     r
 89,466
 8,466b      Soap score technique.  All heavy1
            leakers were bagged. Statistical
            selection of low to moderate
            leakers also bagged. Non leaking
            (or zero soap score) sources were
            not bagged.

  212       OVA screening.  Did not include
            small number of streams
            containing 
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MMS/ABB Offshore Study5:  This study was conducted on Pacific DCS (offshore) oil and gas facilities. A
Draft Final report was issued in 1991, but it has been subject to the review and revision of various regulatory
agencies and a revised Final Report is expected in May or June 1992. This study included results from the
screening of 89,466 components on seven platforms. A total of 294 components were bagged and leaks were
quantified using GC.  Drawbacks of the MMS/ABB data include limited applicability to sources outside the
Pacific OCS region, questions about the emission rates of inaccessible components, and questions about the
effect of "pre-notification."

The conclusion of the review was that these reports could be used as the starting  point for an investigation of
the current program.

Also during the Phase 1 program, Radian conducted a short-term field study in 1990 of fugitive emissions  at
Amoco's Ft. Lupton  gas production/gas plant facility. This study involved screening 20 gas wellheads, a
bagging test on a single gas wellhead, and screening 565 components in the gas plant.

Other work included the  development of model plants to direct future data collection activities.  For
example, the number of gas plants using various processing techniques were obtained from industry surveys,
as shown in Figure I.

        Phase 2 Efforts -  During Phase 2, Star Environmental conducted a fugitive emission study funded
by the American Petroleum Institute (API) to validate existing correlation equations  and emission factors for
petroleum production fugitive emissions, and to develop a profile of air toxics emissions from petroleum
production sources.  GRI co-funded the API/Star program to obtain updated methane fugitive emission
factors. The API/Star program consisted of fugitive screening and bagging at twelve sites: four gas
production facilities,  four oil production facilities, and four gas processing plants.  In addition, four of the
twelve facilities were the  same as written up in the original 1980 API/Rockwell report.  The preliminary
results for gas production facilities are shown in Table VI.

As seen in Table III, fugitive emissions appear to contribute approximately 47% of total industry emissions.
The gas production and transmission segments are both major sources of fugitive methane emissions.
Because the API/Star program will provide updated emission factors for gas production and processing,
these segments will have  less uncertainty than the transmission segment.

        Vented Emissions.
        Overview -  Radian has completed interim work on vented emissions for Phase 2 of the project
which builds on previous work performed by Pipeline Systems Incorporated (PSI) in Phase 1 and in the early-
stages of Phase 2. The Radian Phase 2 work added new categories for venting and calculated preliminary
numbers for each  category.  In addition, many numbers from  the original PSI reports were revised with new
data.  The major sources were determined via interviews and site visits to gas and oil fields, gas  processing
plants, and gas storage facilities.

Options for evaluating the emissions from  venting in the production segment were to:  1) use the nationally
tracked "vented and  flared" numbers reported by each operator, 2) calculate the total vented and flared
emissions by calculating an emissions range for each known emitter, 3) calculate the total vented and flared
emissions by measuring the emissions from each known emitter  or group of emitters, or 4) use some
combination of 2) and 3).

        Reported  National Numbers - A detailed evaluation  of the nationally reported vented and flared
emissions statistics revealed that the numbers were not valuable as true emissions measurements.  Vented
and flared emissions numbers reported to  state agencies come from two sources. Gas and oil field operators
report all dispositions  of their produced gas, including a  "vented and flared" disposition, and gas processing

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Cryogenic-
 Expander
 (36.4%)
                                         Cryogenic-
                                       Joule-Thomson
                                           (6.0%)
Absorption (5.8%)

     Adsorption  (1,7%)

         Compression (2.2%)
                                                                     Refrigeration
                                                                      Absorption
                                                                       (21.5%)
                               Refrigeration
                                  (26.4%)
 Source:  Ref. 6.
              FIGURE I. Gas processing plants by process type.
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                                                                                  92-142.06
TABLE VI.  Preliminary fugitive methane emissions factors for gas production fields.
From West Coast Dry Gas Field
Site contains 27 wells and 7,700 components
Each well has a separator (27 total)
Each well produces less than one million SCF/day
Site contains 7 compressors and 8

Wells
Heaters
Separators
Compressors
TOTALS

Count
27
8
27
7


Connections
1000
800
3000
1300
6100
From Rocky
Valves
300
150
625
200
1275
Mountain
fired heaters
Open-
ends
50
35
120
20
225
Gas Field
Relief V.
7
10
65
30
112
(some oil also)
Leaks
60
70
100
30
260

CH4
(lb/day)
14
12
19
6
51

Site contains 15 wells and 8,300 components


Each well
Each well
has a separator (15 total)
produces less
than one million SCF/day
Site contains 7 dehydrators and 15

Wells
Separators
Sales Areas
Dehydrators
TOTALS
Count
L5
15
15
7

Connections
700
2600
2100
1300
6700
Valves
150
450
350
200
1150
sales areas
Open-
ends
15
75
100
50
240
Relief V.
0
90
80
55
225
Leaks
33
240
200
215
688
CH4
(lb/day)
25
125
100
100
350
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plant operators also produce a similar disposition report. These monthly numbers are then routed from the
state agencies to the Department of Energy's (DOE) Energy Information Administration (EIA), where they
are published nationally.

Unfortunately, the vented and flared data generated by the gas and oil field operators have little scientific
basis, primarily because there is no regulatory driving force for a consistent basis.  The state agencies are
only concerned with "venting and flaring" from a toxic gas (H^S) release standpoint (they want to make sure
the gas is burned), or from a tracking of production "allowables" standpoint (they want to ensure equity
among the producers in a field).  States have very few regulations covering the methods of calculating vented
and flared emissions, and tracking venting and flaring numbers vary from state to state.

Since wellhead  flare lines have no meters, any material flared or vented  at the well is estimated by the
operator and is based on how many events are remembered and recorded and on an undefined method for
estimating the gas release.  The operator may use the field's gas to oil ratio, the most recent well test, or
his/her best guess as to the amount released.  The basis is  far from scientific.

Gas processing plants use a more scientific basis, performing a total plant material  balance using all the plant
disposition meters. However, the imbalance, or  Unaccounted For (UAF), is automatically assigned to the
"vented and  flared" disposition in the  monthly report.  Thus, the vented and flared category for gas plants is
not really measured, but simply the result of a material balance. If all other dispositions were perfectly
measured, the UAF would represent  the amount vented and flared plus the amount emitted from fugitives.
However, since meters  often have uncorrected biases, since the total gas plant balance may vary by an
amount larger than the UAF, and since fugitive  emissions can be large, the UAF is probably not a realistic
measure of venting and flaring. Some proof of this is that the plant's "vented and flared" amounts may vary
and may be  relatively high despite a flare meter  reading of zero and despite routine maintenance practices
within the plant (no venting),

The national numbers for venting and flaring are therefore useful only as yardsticks against which to
compare the more accurate detailed calculations and measurements methods that follow.

        Measurement Methods - Although calculations are the basis for measuring most of the vented
categories, there are categories where measurements can be taken to populate the database.  Some methods
considered were:  tracer tests,  direct on-line gas chromatograph  (GC) measurement of vent stacks, and
bagging and screening for specific devices. Phase 2 made little  use of these measurements because of the
vast number of categories that first had to be identified.  There were, however, a few applications of on-line
GC tests to  glycol dehydrator vents.  There were also some tracer tests for  total emissions (fugitive and
vented) from oil and gas fields and gas plant facilities.  Future use of the measurement methods will be
defined during  the Phase 3 planning.

        Calculation Methods - Venting sources often require a calculation.*! approach.  Unlike fugitive
emissions, which is a rather narrow category, venting covers all kinds of emission sources.  Whereas fugitive
components can be broadly classified and then measured by the same method for all component types,
venting components are too diverse to measure by the same method and often too  numerous to measure at
all. Venting emissions vary from unburned methane at  the flare tip, to pneumatic device emissions, to
continuous glycol regenerator stack emissions, to vessel  purging, to intermittent pressure relief valve lifting.

To quantify  methane emissions from  venting, each possible venting source was defined by examining all the
equipment used by the industry, as well as the practices for operating and maintaining the  equipment. A
data search  was then performed  for each source to find applicable studies and emission measurements. If
measurements were unavailable,  a method was devised to calculate unit emissions based on other engineer-
ing data.  For example, data on the average size of separators, the average  pressure of separators, the

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                                                                                             92-142.06

population of separators, and the frequency of separator blowdown might be used to calculate maintenance
emissions from separator blowdowns when direct measurements are unavailable. Thus, an individual plan
was developed for each source.

PSI initially populated  the database for some calculations by visiting a few facilities.  PSI made an estimate of
emissions for each field and then extrapolated  to total U.S. emissions, assuming the fields  were "models" of
all fields in the U.S. PSI extrapolated by multiplying the field emissions by a ratio of U.S. wells to model
field wells (or U.S. production to model field production). Since a few  fields of any type are  not statistically
significant, Radian visited and interviewed a number of other operators  of multiple fields.  Radian has added
many new emission categories to the database  in the production area and has produced initial calculations in
each new category, as well as updated many of the existing categories.

Asseen in Table III, venting emissions appear  to contribute approximately 53% of total industry emissions.
The gas production segment is estimated as the largest source of venting emissions, with the transmission
segment as the second largest source.


CONCLUSIONS AND PHASE 3 PLANS
In Phase 3, the plan for populating of the database will be finalized. The calculations will then be made and
presented in a final report to GRI and EPA.  The plan will include selections of measurement techniques  (if
any) for particular categories, and selection of the number of site visits  and surveys necessary to statistically
populate the  database. Data gathering will then begin.

Fugitives
Future work during Phase 3 will include reviewing new reports as they become available.  In particular, the
API/Star Fugitive Emission Project and the MMS/ABB Pacific OCS Fugitives  Report should be available
soon. Data from these reports will be incorporated into revised emission factors and component counts.

Also, Radian has proposed to validate the emission factors with a field  test program  consisting of screening
and bagging at possibly two additional gas production sites (with adjoining gas processing  plants). At the
same time, component inventories and stream  composition data will be  collected. This validation work could
focus on either "typical" faculties with minimal leak detection and repair (LDAR) programs, or it could
attempt to target facilities with more intensive fugitive emissions control.  This  might allow an estimate to be
made of the degree of reduction in emissions actually achievable through  improved inspection and
maintenance  (I&M).

The goal of the Phase  3 work will be to obtain a national emissions estimate within the specified target
accuracy.

Vented  Emissions
The four largest venting emission subcategories (see Table IV for all subcategories) were  compressor
exhaust, pneumatic devices,  dehydrator vents, and vessel blowdowns. These subcategories made  up a large
percentage of total vented emissions and will receive the most attention for  refinement in  Phase  3.

For venting categories in production, gas processing,  gathering lines, and gas storage, the calculational
approach will be  the primary method of completing the emissions estimates. Data gathered from various
operators of field equipment through interviews, site  visits, and questionnaires will populate the database for
equipment types  and emission rates. Some measurement techniques (tracer tests) will also be used to
supplement the calculational approach in high  emission rate categories. As  with fugitives, the goal will be to
obtain a national emissions estimate within the specified target accuracy.
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REFERENCES
1       Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).  (1990) Climate Change:  The IPCC Scientific
       Assessment.  J.T. Houghton, GJ. Jenkins, and JJ. Ephrams, eds.  Cambridge University Press.
       Cambridge, UK. 365 pp.

2       Marland, G. (1982)  The Impact of Synthetic  Fuels on Carbon Dioxide Emissions."  In: Clark, W.C.,
       ed. Carbon Dioxide Review 1982. Oxford University Press, New York.  pp. 406-410.

3       Eaton, W.S., F.G. Bush III, J. Coster, J.C. Delwiche, and H.O. Hartley. Fugitive Hydrocarbon
       Emissions from Petroleum Production Operations (2 volumes). Prepared for the American Petroleum
       Institute by Rockwell International, Los Angeles, CA.  API Publication No. 4322.  March 1980.

4       DuBose, DA., J.I. Steinmetz, and G.E. Harris. Data Analysis Report Frequency of Leak Occurrence
       and Emission Factors for Natural Gas Liquid Plants. USEPA, Office of AQPS, EMB Report No.
       80-FOL-l. July 1982.

5       Countess, RJ.,  and D. Herkhof. "Fugitive Hydrocarbon Emissions from Pacific OCS Facilities."
       Paper No. 91-91.2 presented at  84th Annual Meeting of the Air and  Waste Management Association,
       Vancouver, B.C. June 16-21, 1991.

6       Cepica, W J.  "Gas-processing Industry Shows  Signs of Maturity."  Oil and Gas Journal, Penn Well
       Publishing Company, New  York, NY July 10, 1989.
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 AEERL-P-1127
       TECHNICAL REPORT DATA
(Please read Instructions on the reverse before compl
1. REPORT NO.
  EPA/600/A-94/086
                           2.
4. TITLE ANDSUBTITLE
 Methane Emissions from the Natural Gas Industry:
  Production and Transmission Emissions
                                                       5, REPORT DATE
                             6. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION CODE
7. AUTHOR(S)
 Matthew R. Harrison
                                                       8. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION REPORT NO.
                              RCN 275-026-62-04
9. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION NAME AND ADDRESS
 Radian Corporation
 P. C.  Box 201088
 Austin,  Texas  78720-1088
                                                       10. PROGRAM ELEMENT NO.
                             11. CONTRACT/GRANT NO.
                              68-Dl-0031
 3, SPONSORING AGENCY NAME AND ADDRESS
 EPA, Office of Research and Development
 Air and Energy Engineering Research Laboratory
 Research Triangle Park, NC  27711
                             13. TYPE OF REPORT AND PERIOD COVERED
                               Published paper; 4/92-9793
                             14, SPONSORING AGENCY CODE
                               EPA/600/13
75. SUPPLEMENTARY NOTES AEERL project officer is David A. Kirchgessner, Mail Drop 63,
 919/541-4021. Presented at AWMA Conference,  Kansas  City, MC, 6/22-26/92.
  . ABSTRACT
              paper discusses a eofunded,  Gas Research Institute/EPA project to
 quantify methane emissions to the atmosphere resulting from operations in the natu-
 ral gas industry. Study results will measure or calculate all methane emissions,
 from production at the well and up to,  but not including,  the point of final use. When
 these data are combined with those of other studies than quantify greenhouse gas
 emissions from methane consumers (i. e. , various combustion sources),  a definitive
 comparison of the relative environmental effects of using methane versus other fuels
 will be possible.  The methane emissions project is being executed in three phases:
 Phases 1 and 2  identified all potential emitting sources and then established methods
 for measuring or calculating emissions from those sources,  and Phase 3 will  gather
 statistical samples of data to complete the extrapolation to national estimates.  An
 accuracy  target of +/-100 billion standard cubic feet per year of calculated emissions
 has been established. Currently Phase 2 is complete, and Phase 3 is  beginning. The
 paper presents the methods and preliminary conclusions from Phases 1 and 2,  as
 well as the plans for completing Phase 3. Some calculations  have been completed in
 Phase  2 and, although the calculations are not yet  based on statistically significant
 data,  some  preliminary conclusions can be drawn.
17.
                             KEY WORDS AND DOCUMENT ANALYSIS
                 DESCRIPTORS
                                           b.lDENTIFIERS/OPEN ENDED TERMS
                                          c. COSATI Field/Group
 Pollution
 Natural Gas
 Methane
 Emission
 Production
 Transmission
                 Pollution Control
                 Stationary Sources
13 B
21D
07C
14G
13. DISTRIBUTION STATEMENT

 Release to Public
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                 Unclassified
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                 20. SECURITY CLASS (This page/
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