Enhancements of methane, benzene, and n-pentane by oil and gas fields observed from the DC-3 aircraft campaign: A case study.

摘要

Observations in the boundary layer from the 1 June flight in Colorado of the 2012 Deep Convective Clouds and Chemistry campaign shows enhancements of n-pentane, methane, and benzene near oil and gas wells that are not correlated with enhancements in carbon monoxide. To further investigate the source of methane emissions, an i-pentane:n-pentane ratio is compared to surface measurements from the Denver-Julesberg Basin and found to be similar. Measurements of n-pentane, methane, benzene and CO are also shown with proximity to Denver to compare an urban signature with an oil and gas well emissions signature. Elevated n-pentane, methane, and benzene mixing ratios without enhancements in CO from the 1 June flight are considered to be strongly influenced by emissions from oil and natural gas fields located near the sampling locations.