Seasonality and Declining Intensity of Methane Emissions from the Permian and Nearby US Oil and Gas Basins
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Summary
This summary is machine-generated.US Permian Basin oil and gas methane emissions averaged 4.0 Tg/year from 2019-2023. Methane intensity decreased significantly, showing seasonal variations, with potential reductions through improved facility weatherization.
Area Of Science
- Environmental Science
- Atmospheric Chemistry
- Remote Sensing
Background
- Methane (CH4) is a potent greenhouse gas with significant emissions from oil and gas operations.
- Accurate quantification of methane emissions is crucial for climate change mitigation strategies.
- The US Permian Basin is a major oil and gas producing region with substantial methane emissions.
Purpose Of The Study
- To quantify weekly methane emissions and trends from US oil and gas production in the Permian Basin (2019-2023) and nearby basins (2022-2023).
- To assess the methane emission intensity and its relationship with production levels and seasonality.
- To identify potential drivers of seasonal methane emissions and evaluate mitigation strategies.
Main Methods
- Utilized analytical inversion of Tropospheric Monitoring Instrument (TROPOMI) satellite observations with the Integrated Methane Inversion (IMI) model at 25 km resolution.
- Quantified weekly methane emissions and trends for specific US oil and gas basins.
- Corroborated findings with ground-based measurements (Permian Basin Tower Network) and aircraft/satellite data (Insight M, GHGSat).
Main Results
- Permian oil and gas emissions averaged 4.0 ± 1.1 Tg/year (2019-2023) with significant seasonal variation but little interannual change.
- Methane intensity in the Permian Basin decreased from 5.2% to 3.2% despite increased production.
- Emissions were 50 ± 10% higher in winter than summer, potentially linked to liquid storage tank efficiency in cold conditions.
Conclusions
- Methane emissions from US oil and gas production exhibit significant seasonality, with higher emissions in winter.
- Improved weatherization of oil and gas facilities presents a viable strategy for substantial methane emission reduction.
- Methane intensity in the New Mexico Permian is approaching state targets, indicating progress in emission control.
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