Methane emissions from natural gas infrastructure and use in the urban region of Boston, Massachusetts
Emissions from natural gas are found to be two to three times larger than predicted by existing inventory methodologies and industry reports. Published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, January 2015.
Recommendation to accurately account for warming effects of methane
Due to the use of only the 100-year GWP and the use of outdated GWPs from early IPCC
assessment reports, the warming influence of methane emissions over the next several decades
has been underestimated by as much as a factor of four in many recent assessments, leading to
neglect of important and practical opportunities for slowing near-term warming.
A letter from scientists to administration officials. July 29, 2014.
Improvements Needed in EPA Efforts to Address Methane Emissions From Natural Gas Distribution Pipelines
US EPA Inspector General Report 14-P-0324 dated July 25, 2014
Statement on EPA Draft Plan Released June 2, 2014 on “Carbon Pollution Emission Guidelines for Existing Stationary Sources: Electric Utility Generating Units”
by
Robert W. Howarth, Ph.D.
The David R. Atkinson Professor of Ecology & Environmental Biology
Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853 USA
June 7, 2014
Comments on blog by David McCabe of the Clean Air Task Force (“EPA’s Clean Power Plan reduces climate pollution – despite leaks from natural gas”)
by
Robert W. Howarth, Ph.D.
The David R. Atkinson Professor of Ecology & Environmental Biology
Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853 USA
June 7, 2014
A bridge to nowhere: methane emissions and the greenhouse gas footprint of natural gas
By Robert W. Howarth,Ph.D. in Energy Science & Engineering. May 15, 2014. The best data available now indicate that our estimates of methane emission from both shale gas and conventional natural gas were relatively robust. Using these new, best available data and a 20-year time period for comparing the warming potential of methane to carbon dioxide, the conclusion stands that both shale gas and conventional natural gas have a larger GHG than do coal or oil, for any possible use of natural gas and particularly for the primary uses of residential and commercial heating.
Toward a better understanding and quantification of methane emissions from shale gas development
High leak rates illustrate the urgent need to identify and
mitigate these leaks as shale gas production continues to increase
nationally. By Dana R. Caulton, Paul B. Shepson, Renee L. Santoroc, Jed P. Sparks, Robert W. Howarth, Anthony R. Ingraffea et al. PNAS, March 12, 2014.
Howarth/Ingraffea methane briefing
Webinar with Robert Howarth, Ph.D. and Anthony Ingraffea, Ph.D., May 7, 2014. (Audio 26:00)
Abstract: A new look at methane and non-methane hydrocarbon emissions from oil and natural gas operations in the Colorado Denver-Julesburg Basin
Journal of Geophysical Research, May, 2014.
WHAT WOULD IT COST TO CLEAN UP NATURAL GAS LEAKS?!
Fact Sheet from Clean Air Task Force, March, 2014.
Methane Leaks from North American Natural Gas Systems
By A. R. Brandt, G. A. Heath, E. A. Kort, F. O’Sullivan, G. Pétron, S. M. Jordaan, P. Tans, J. Wilcox, A. M. Gopstein, D. Arent, S. Wofsy, N. J. Brown, R. Bradley, G. D. Stucky, D. Eardley, and R. Harriss published in Science Magazine, February 18, 2014. (Abstract)
GAS RUSH: Increasing Greenhouse Gas Emissions from New Oil, Gas, and Chemical Plants
By the Environmental Integrity Project, December 5, 2013.
Anthropogenic emissions of methane in the United States
The study concludes that methane emissions associated with both the animal husbandry and fossil fuel industries have larger greenhouse gas impacts than indicated by existing inventories. National Academy of Sciences, October 18, 2013.
Anthropogenic emissions of methane in the United States (Abstract)
By by Scot M. Miller et al. October 18, 2013.
GAS INDUSTRY STUDY: NEW EDF AND GAS INDUSTRY METHANE EMISSION STUDY IS NOT REPRESENTATIVE OF US NATURAL GAS DEVELOPMENT, NOT THE PROMISED DEFINITIVE STUDY
Physicans, Scientists & Engineers for Healthy Energy responds to the industry-funded study of fugitive methane emissions from fracked wells. September 16th, 2013.
Measurements of methane emissions at natural gas production sites in the United States
No surprise: An industry-funded study finds lower levels of fugitive methane emissions than federal agencies and independent researchers. The sponsors were
Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), Anadarko Petroleum Corporation, BG
Group plc, Chevron, Encana Oil & Gas (USA) Inc., Pioneer Natural Resources
Company, SWEPI LP (Shell), Southwestern Energy, Talisman Energy USA, and
XTO Energy, an ExxonMobil subsidiary. September 2013.
Implications of Shale Gas Development for Climate Change–Abstract
Richard G. Newell, National Academy of Sciences, May, 2013
Implications of Shale Gas Development for Climate Change–Powerpoint
Richard G. Newell, National Academy of Sciences, May, 2013
The Biggest Myth of All –
Powerpoint presentation by Tony Ingraffea, (Ph.D., P.E., Professor of Engineering at Cornell University, and President of Physicians, Scientists, and Engineers for Healthy Energy. March, 2013.
The Intersection Between Hydraulic Fracturing and Climate Change: 6 min video
Anthony Ingraffea, PhD., Dwight C. Baum Professor of Engineering at Cornell University, April 9, 2013. (Video 6:00)
Methane Emissions from Modern Gas Development
A trifold brochure from Physicians, Scientists and Engineers for Healthy Energy 0(PSE) that summarizes the studies on methane emissions from gas extraction, transmission and distribution. Fall 2012.
Greenhouse gases, climate change and the transition from coal to low-carbon electricity
Conservation, wind, solar, nuclear power, and possibly carbon capture and storage appear to be able to achieve substantial climate benefits in the second half of this century; however, natural gas cannot. BY N P Myhrvold and K Caldeira published in Environmental Research Letters February 16, 2012.
Methane Emissions from Natural Gas Systems
by Robert Howarth, Drew Shindell, Renee Santoro, Anthony Ingraffea, Nathan Phillips, and Amy Townsend-Small, A background paper prepared for the National Climate Assessment. February 25, 2012.
Venting and leaking of methane from shale gas development: A Response to Cathles et al.
Robert W. Howarth, Renee Santoro, Anthony Ingraffea accepted for Climate Change Publication Jan 10, 2012
Video: 23 MINUTES Published on Apr 7, 2013
Dr. Anthony Ingraffea discusses methane leaks in natural gas systems and the cumulative climate impact of those leaks. Created by Developing Pictures https://vimeo.com/62563386
The Marcellus Shale: Bridge to a Clean Energy Future or a Bridget to Nowhere? Environmental, Energy and Climate Policy Considerations for Shale Gas Development in New York State
Pace Environmental Law Review by Beren Argetsinger, Fall, 2011.
Lifecycle Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Shale Gas Compared to Coal–Analysis of Two Studies
By J. David Hughes of the Post Carbon Institute, July 2011.
Indirect Emissions of Carbon Dioxide from Marcellus Shale Gas Development
A technical report from the Agriculture, Energy, & Environment Program by R.L. Santoro, R.H. Howarth, and A. Ingraffea, Cornell University, June 2011.
Methane and the Greenhouse-Gas Footprint of Natural Gas from Shale Formations
“The footprint for shale gas is greater than that for conventional gas or oil when viewed on any time horizon, but particularly so over 20
years. Compared to coal, the footprint of shale gas is at least 20% greater and perhaps more than twice as great on the 20-year horizon and is comparable when compared over 100 years.” By Howarth, Santoro and Ingrafea. Climatic Change Letters, May 2011.
Climate Impacts of Shale Gas Development
Assessment of the Greenhouse Gas Footprint of Natural Gas from Shale Formations Obtained by High-Volume, Slick-Water Hydraulic Fracturing. by Robert Howarth and Anthony Ingraffea, April 11, 2011. (Video 60:00)
Toward a better understanding and quantification of methane emissions from shale gas development
By Dana R. Caulton, Paul B. Shepson, Renee L. Santoro, Jed P. Sparks, Robert W. Howarth, Anthony R. Ingraffea, Maria O. L. Cambaliza, Colm Sweeney, Anna Karion, Kenneth J. Davis, Brian H. Stirm, Stephen A. Montzka, and Ben R. Miller. Published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. (Abstract only.) March 2014.
Shale Gas in British Columbia: Risks to B.C.’s climate action objectives
By Matt Horne, Pembina Institute, September 2011.
Shale Gas: A Provisional Assessment of Climate Change and Environmental Impacts
By the Tyndall Center for Climate Change Research, January, 2011
Comparative Life-Cycle Air Emissions of Coal, Domestic Natural Gas, LNG, and SNG for Electricity Generation
A 2007 study comparing greenhouse gas (GHG), SOx, and NOx life-cycle emissions of electricity generated with NG/LNG/SNG and coal.
The study shows that with the current fleet of power plants, a mix of domestic NG, LNG, and SNG would have lower greenhouse gas emissions than coal. But if advanced technologies with carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) are used, however, coal and a mix of domestic NG, LNG, and SNG would have very similar lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions. For SOx and NOx the study finds that there are significant emissions in the upstream stages of the NG/
LNG life-cycles, which contribute to a larger range in Sox and NOx emissions for NG/LNG than for coal and SNG.
|
|