In:
Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics, Copernicus GmbH, Vol. 21, No. 9 ( 2021-05-03), p. 6605-6626
Abstract:
Abstract. Methane emissions associated with the production, transport, and
use of oil and natural gas increase the climatic impacts of energy use;
however, little is known about how emissions vary temporally and with
commodity prices. We present airborne and ground-based data, supported by
satellite observations, to measure weekly to monthly changes in total
methane emissions in the United States' Permian Basin during a period of
volatile oil prices associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. As oil prices
declined from ∼ USD 60 to USD 20 per barrel, emissions changed
concurrently from 3.3 % to 1.9 % of natural gas production; as prices
partially recovered, emissions increased back to near initial values.
Concurrently, total oil and natural gas production only declined by
∼ 10 % from the peak values seen in the months prior to the
crash. Activity data indicate that a rapid decline in well development and
subsequent effects on associated gas flaring and midstream infrastructure
throughput are the likely drivers of temporary emission reductions. Our
results, along with past satellite observations, suggest that under more
typical price conditions, the Permian Basin is in a state of overcapacity in
which rapidly growing associated gas production exceeds midstream capacity
and leads to high methane emissions.
Type of Medium:
Online Resource
ISSN:
1680-7324
DOI:
10.5194/acp-21-6605-2021
Language:
English
Publisher:
Copernicus GmbH
Publication Date:
2021
detail.hit.zdb_id:
2092549-9
detail.hit.zdb_id:
2069847-1