Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 15, 2025

Design and Use of a Full Flow Sampling System FFS for the Quantification of Methane Emissions
Published on: June 12, 2016
U.S. Ethane Emissions and Trends Estimated from Atmospheric Observations
Mingyang Zhang1, Isaac J Vimont2, Sarah M Jordaan3
1Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21205, United States.
US ethane emissions from oil and gas activities are three times higher than previously estimated. These greenhouse gas emissions show a different seasonal pattern and are not directly linked to production increases.
Area of Science:
- Environmental science
- Atmospheric chemistry
- Greenhouse gas emissions
Background:
- Oil and natural gas (O&G) production has significantly changed in the U.S.
- The impact of these changes on air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions remains unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine U.S. ethane (C2H6) emissions, a key component of O&G activities, between 2015 and 2020.
- To compare estimated emissions with official inventories and analyze emission trends relative to production.
Main Methods:
- Utilized C2H6 observations from NOAA's Global Monitoring Laboratory and partners (towers and aircraft).
- Employed an inverse modeling approach to estimate emissions from observational data.
Main Results:
- U.S. C2H6 emissions were found to be approximately 4.43 ± 0.2 Tg·yr⁻¹, which is about three times higher than the EPA's 2017 NEI estimate (1.54 Tg·yr⁻¹).
- Observed C2H6 emissions exhibited a distinct seasonal cycle compared to the NEI.
- Emissions increased by 6.3 ± 7.6% from 2015-2020, a rate decoupled from a 78% increase in reported C2H6 production.
- A correlation was noted between C2H6 emissions and spot prices, potentially indicating infrastructure pressure.
Conclusions:
- Current estimates of U.S. ethane emissions significantly underestimate actual levels.
- Ethane emission trends do not directly mirror production volume changes, suggesting complex emission drivers.
- Ethane spot prices may serve as an indicator for supply chain stress impacting emissions.
More Related Videos
05:00Measuring Dissolved Methane in Aquatic Ecosystems Using An Optical Spectroscopy Gas Analyzer
Published on: July 26, 2024
10:29Calibrated Passive Sampling - Multi-plot Field Measurements of NH3 Emissions with a Combination of Dynamic Tube Method and Passive Samplers
Published on: March 21, 2016
Related Concept Videos
Conformations of Ethane and Propane
Staggered conformation is a low energy and more stable conformation with the C-H bonds on the front carbon placed at 60°dihedral angles relative to the C-H bonds on the back carbon, leading to a reduced torsional strain. In staggered...
Standard Enthalpy of Formation
Inductive Effects on Chemical Shift: Overview
Combustion Energy: A Measure of Stability in Alkanes and Cycloalkanes
Alkanes undergo combustion in the presence of excess oxygen and high-temperature conditions to give carbon dioxide and water. A combustion reaction is the energy source in natural gas, liquified...
Mass Spectrometry: Branched Alkane Fragmentation
Conformations of Butane