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Identifying Abnormal Tank Emissions Using Ethane to Methane Signatures of Oil and Natural Gas Production in the Permian Basin
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  • Dana R Caulton,
  • Priya D Gurav,
  • Anna M Robertson,
  • Kristen Pozsonyi,
  • Shane Murphy,
  • David R. Lyon
Dana R Caulton
University of Wyoming

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Priya D Gurav
University of Wyoming
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Anna M Robertson
University of Wyoming
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Kristen Pozsonyi
University of Wyoming
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Shane Murphy
University of Wyoming
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David R. Lyon
Environmental Defense Fund
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Abstract

There has been increasing interest in quantifying methane emissions from a view towards mitigation. Accordingly, ground-based sampling of oil and gas production sites in the Permian Basin was carried out in January and October 2020. Ethane to methane ratios (EMRs) were quantified which may be used to distinguish emissions from particular sources, such as produced gas and oil tank flashing. The logarithmic mean EMR for 102 observations was 18 (±2)%, while source specific EMRs showed that sites where emissions were attributed to a tank produced much higher EMRs averaging 44%. Sites with other noticeable sources such as compressors, pneumatics, and separators had lower and less variable EMRs. Tanks displayed distinct behavior with EMRs between 10-21% producing CH4 emissions >30x higher than tanks with EMRs >21%. This observation supports the hypothesis that high emission rate tank sources are often caused by separator malfunctions that leak produced gas through liquids storage tanks.