Methane Emissions from Key Sources in Onshore Natural Gas Production Operations: A Comparative Assessment

摘要

Natural gas comprises about one-fourth of all energy used in the U.S. with growing importance in the global energy mix. New production techniques, including those involving hydraulic fracturing, have enabled expanded access to this resource, including increased natural gas based power generation that is credited with reducing U.S. greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Hydraulic fracturing techniques developed in the 1940s involve high pressure injection of "fracturing fluids" (consisting primarily of water and sand) to create fissures allowing natural gas to flow freely into production piping. When hydraulic fracturing is combined with horizontal drilling (a technique which allows long lengths of well-bore to follow horizontal shale deposits for thousands of feet), significant production is possible from a single well site.