American Association for Aerosol Research - Abstract Submission

AAAR 31st Annual Conference
October 8-12, 2012
Hyatt Regency Minneapolis
Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA

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Current and Future Impacts of Natural Gas Drilling in the Marcellus Shale on Regional NOx, VOC and PM2.5 Emissions

ANIRBAN ROY, Peter Adams, Allen Robinson, Carnegie Mellon University

     Abstract Number: 174
     Working Group: Remote and Regional Atmospheric Aerosols

Abstract
Recent discovery of reserves of shale gas, combined with advances in drilling technology, are leading to extensive development of natural gas from the Marcellus Shale formation which straddles Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Ohio and New York. However, drilling for natural gas raises several air quality problems. We constructed a regional emission inventory for the development and production of gas from the Marcellus formation, including emissions for VOC, NOx and PM2.5. The most important emissions sources for NOx and PM2.5 include diesel powered drilling rigs, hydraulic fracturing pumps, and natural-gas fired compressors. Completion venting, condensate tanks and compressors are major sources for VOCs. We projected these emissions in 2020, using well-drilling and gas production forecasts from published reports. NOx emissions in 2009 were predominated by truck traffic and by compressors in 2020. PM2.5 emissions were dominated by trucks in 2009, and were equally split between drilling, fracing, trucks and compressors in 2020. Completion venting was seen to be a major source of VOCs in both years. It was seen that Marcellus development could contribute to 7-27% of regional NOx and 6-24% of regional VOC emissions in 2020. Relative contribution of PM2.5 emissions from Marcellus development was smaller (1-6%), but elemental carbon (EC) emissions are potentially a concern. EC emissions in 2020 from Marcellus development could not only offset the reductions in EC emissions due to control strategies, but also raise them above the 2009 values. Diesel-powered drill rigs, fracturing pumps and truck traffic were the predominant contributors to EC emissions.