The Jig is UP!
Posted: 19-Oct-2009
Environmental Defense Fund today released an analysis that compared trends in air pollution data collected by the state with public records of oil and gas activity in the Barnett Shale and found a correlation between the ambient levels of common hydrocarbons and the amount of condensate produced by natural gas wells in Denton County.
A related analysis released today of state air pollution monitoring data between 2002 and 2008 found that the air in Denton county contained more non-methane hydrocarbons (including some potentially hazardous pollutants) than any of the other counties in the Dallas-Fort Worth area where such monitoring was conducted.
Hydrocarbons include many chemicals found in natural gas and petroleum. Most are considered volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which contribute to the formation of ground-level ozone or smog. Environmentalists are also concerned because methane, a main component in natural gas, contributes to greenhouse gas emissions and climate change.
“EDF is not opposed to shale drilling for natural gas, a valuable national resource and cleaner transition fuel,” [TXsharon says: do more research] said Ramón Alvarez, Ph.D., senior scientist who led the analyses. “We simply want to see production done in the most environmentally responsible way possible. The good news is that many emissions controls can actually increase profits for natural gas producers.”
Results of these analyses come at a time when the oil and gas industry is drawing increased attention from the development of unconventional resources like the Barnett Shale, some of which are located near population centers. The New York Times reported last week about the challenge of persuading gas and oil producers to employ emission reduction measures that frequently pay for themselves.
Numerous cost-effective ways exist to reduce emissions from oil and gas production. Most of these measures have paybacks of less than one year. “An environmental trifecta is within our reach,” Alvarez said. “Oil and gas operators can use proven emissions controls to increase profits after short payback periods, while helping improve local air quality and minimizing climate change.”
The oil and gas industry releases about 37 tons of VOC emissions per day in Denton County, which ranks second in the region behind Wise County’s 42 tons per day. These emissions are substantial, nearly equal to a third of the 100 tons of VOC emissions produced daily from all of the cars and trucks in the nine-county DFW ozone nonattainment area.
Proposed recommendations by EDF include: expansion of VOC monitoring, especially in other Barnett Shale counties with significant condensate production (e.g., Wise, Hood, Parker); adoption of cost-effective oil and gas emissions controls, beginning with condensate tanks; and analyzing the effects of emissions in the Barnett Shale area on health and regional ozone levels.
Analyses are available via downloadable PDFs on the EDF website. To access the self-guided presentation of EDF’s analysis, visit here. To access the related analysis “Analysis of AutoGC and VOC Canister Data in the DFW Area” by Dr. Birnur Guven, visit here.
Speaking of methane…
BREAKING: Methane 3 times higher than normal in DISH, TX
About Sharon Wilson
Sharon Wilson is considered a leading citizen expert on the impacts of shale oil and gas extraction. She is the go-to person whether it’s top EPA officials from D.C., national and international news networks, or residents facing the shock of eminent domain and the devastating environmental effects of natural gas development in their backyards.
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Air quality is but one of a panoply of issues related to NG drilling. EDF should also study the effects on water, green space degradation, wildlife impacts, etc. before declaring they are not opposed to shale drilling in both urban and rural environments. The native landscapes that enrich our lives are being rapidly and irresponsible ruined for short term gain. Energy needs should not outweigh everything else that contributes to a healthy ecosystem, that we call life on Earth. Keep it like it was.
Absolutely! My head exploded on that one. It's I think I'll change the text to tiny on that part.
There is technology out there that these companies can use which would result in low impact to the environment. Clean drilling, clean completions, and clean productions.
The problem is these companies do not want to use this technology because of the higher cost. The State needs to step up and make them do it.
The question to ask here is why has TCEQ been allowing and not requiring permits for these oil and gas operations as they are required to do to protect clean health and the environment, not the politicans?
How can a State Agency allow 3 to 4times the total state emissions inventory to not be counted. Lost resources, lost royalities, and lost State income because of the waste going into the Atmosphere. We are talking millions and millions of dollars are being lost throughout the State of Texas.
All the people who are against your blog and your work, Sharon, are losing money as they pollute isn't it a little ironic, don't ya think?! All they have to do is the right thing.
Keep up the good work, keep Texas informed!
I think they're in a frantic rush to get as much leased up and held with production as they possibly can. So they don't want to use any capital on doing things right.
It's the only thing I've come up with after straining my brain.