1 research outputs found
Impact of Marcellus Shale Natural Gas Development in Southwest Pennsylvania on Volatile Organic Compound Emissions and Regional Air Quality
The
Marcellus Shale is the largest natural gas deposit in the U.S.
and rapid development of this resource has raised concerns about regional
air pollution. A field campaign was conducted in the southwestern
Pennsylvania region of the Marcellus Shale to investigate the impact
of unconventional natural gas (UNG) production operations on regional
air quality. Whole air samples were collected throughout an 8050 km<sup>2</sup> grid surrounding Pittsburgh and analyzed for methane, carbon
dioxide, and C<sub>1</sub>–C<sub>10</sub> volatile organic
compounds (VOCs). Elevated mixing ratios of methane and C<sub>2</sub>–C<sub>8</sub> alkanes were observed in areas with the highest
density of UNG wells. Source apportionment was used to identify characteristic
emission ratios for UNG sources, and results indicated that UNG emissions
were responsible for the majority of mixing ratios of C<sub>2</sub>–C<sub>8</sub> alkanes, but accounted for a small proportion
of alkene and aromatic compounds. The VOC emissions from UNG operations
accounted for 17 ± 19% of the regional kinetic hydroxyl radical
reactivity of nonbiogenic VOCs suggesting that natural gas emissions
may affect compliance with federal ozone standards. A first approximation
of methane emissions from the study area of 10.0 ± 5.2 kg s<sup>–1</sup> provides a baseline for determining the efficacy
of regulatory emission control efforts