Nitrogen Oxide Emissions from U.S. Oil and Gas Production: Recent Trends and Source Attribution. Issue 1 (17th January 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Dix, Barbara; de Bruin, Joep; Roosenbrand, Esther; Vlemmix, Tim; Francoeur, Colby; Gorchov‐Negron, Alan; McDonald, Brian; Zhizhin, Mikhail; Elvidge, Christopher; Veefkind, Pepijn; Levelt, Pieternel; de Gouw, Joost
• Is Part Of: Geophysical research letters. Volume 47:Issue 1(2020)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2020-01-17
• Subjects: NOx emissions -- oil and gas -- OMI -- TROPOMI -- NO2 VCDs -- source attribution; Geophysics -- Periodicals; Planets -- Periodicals; Lunar geology -- Periodicals; 550
• DOI: 10.1029/2019GL085866
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0094-8276

Abstract

Abstract: U.S. oil and natural gas production volumes have grown by up to 100% in key production areas between January 2017 and August 2019. Here we show that recent trends are visible from space and can be attributed to drilling, production, and gas flaring activities. By using oil and gas activity data as predictors in a multivariate regression to satellite measurements of tropospheric NO2 columns, observed changes in NO2 over time could be attributed to NO x emissions associated with drilling, production and gas flaring for three select regions: the Permian, Bakken, and Eagle Ford basins. We find that drilling had been the dominant NO x source contributing around 80% before the downturn in drilling activity in 2015. Thereafter, NO x contributions from drilling activities and combined production and flaring activities are similar. Comparison of our top‐down source attribution with a bottom‐up fuel‐based oil and gas NO x emission inventory shows agreement within error margins. Plain Language Summary: U.S. oil and natural gas production volumes have grown by up to 100% in key production areas between January 2017 and August 2019. Here we show that recent trends are visible from space as increases in NO2, an air pollutant that is released from combustion engines associated with the oil and gas industry. For three select regions, the Permian (TX and NM), Bakken (ND), and Eagle Ford (TX) basins, we report that the trend in NO2 columns over time can be explained by a combination of drilling activity, production numbers, and flared gas volume, which allows us to quantify the contributions from these sources to the total NO x (= NO + NO2 ) emissions from these areas. We find that drilling had been the dominant NO x source contributing around 80% before the downturn in drilling activity in 2015. But now, NO x contributions from drilling activities and combined production and flaring activities are similar. Both Permian and Bakken oil and gas production volumes are at an all‐time high and if current growth rates continue in the Eagle Ford basin, maximum production volumes will be exceeded in about 1 year. Key Points: Recent increases in U.S. oil and gas production are seen from space as increased tropospheric NO2 columns and increased gas flaring Changes in NO2 over time can be attributed to oil and gas NO x emissions associated with drilling, production, and gas flaring activities Top‐down and bottom‐up source attributions agree that drilling and, to a lesser extent, production are the main sources of NO x emissions