Barnett Shale Nat Gas Drilling Pollution Nearly Equals Pollution From All Dallas/Ft. Worth Vehicles

[hatrack]

Air pollution from natural gas drilling in the Barnett Shale is a big problem but it can be easily controlled with existing technology, researchers said this week. The giant natural gas field, with 7,700 wells and counting, produces nearly as much air pollution as all the cars and trucks in the Metroplex, according to a study by Al Armendariz of Southern Methodist University and Ramon Alvarez of the Environmental Defense Fund. And unlike most oil and gas production, it’s centered on a highly populated area.

"We have to come up with viable solutions," Alvarez said. "The good news is that there are a lot of viable technologies to reduce the emissions."

Gas drilling creates several kinds of pollution. Carbon dioxide and soot are created by the engines used to power pipeline compressors. Methane, the primary ingredient in natural gas, is a powerful greenhouse gas. It can escape from leaky pipes and equipment, andit is also sometimes vented into the air when wells are being completed. Volatile organic chemicals, including hazardous chemicals such as benzene and formaldehyde, are released from leaky tank batteries, where crude oil is separated from natural gas.

The year-round average for all types of drilling-related pollution is 191 tons per day. In the summer, when North Texas’ air pollution is at its greatest, the emissions can rise to 307 tons per day because the heat causes more evaporation.

EDIT

http://www.star-telegram.com/health/story/1199820.html

[Muttocracy]

1. thanks. NY's new regulatory plans for a similar formation just came out

haven't gotten through them yet, but thanks for this info.

[TXsharon]

2. Major Whitewashing of the REAL study

This is a whitewash job on the http://www.fortworthgov.org/uploadedFiles/Gas_Wells/Emissions%20report%20for%20barnett-shale%2010-14-08.pdf">Armendariz peer reviewed study.

excerpt….

Furthermore, NOx and VOC emissions in 2009 from all Barnett Shale sources (engines and tanks, plus fugitives) will be more than 200% greater than emissions from mobile sources in the entire DFW NAA (624 tpd vs. 273 tpd). Figure 5 summarizes Barnett Shale-related emissions, plus emissions from airports and mobile sources. PG23

The Star-Telegram article is cheerleading for the industry because that paper gets gas royalties.

http://txsharon.blogspot.com/2008/12/devon-has-duty-to-minimize-air.html">I wrote an op-ed after the study came out.

http://txsharon.blogspot.com/2009/02/video-shows-emissions-from-barnett.html">VIDEO: Emissions from Barnett Shale drilling rig.

http://txsharon.blogspot.com/2009/01/barnett-shale-video-showing-hydraulic.html">VIDEO: Emissions from Barnett Shale hydraulic fracture

http://txsharon.blogspot.com/2009/01/propaganda-natural-gas-bridge-fuel-that.html">Propaganda: Natural Gas: A Bridge Fuel That Can Help Improve Air Quality