Fugitive methane emissions along the natural gas supply chain: The problem and how to control
Barry Stevens
TBD America, USA
: Expert Opin Environ Biol
Abstract
Proponents of natural gas often tout its “green” credentials by being the cleanest burning fossil fuel, this is not the whole story. In addition to habitat disruption and potential impacts on local water and air quality created by the natural gas Bonanza, one of the most significant concerns is the contribution of “fugitive methane emissions” on climate change. Methane emissions along the natural gas supply chain from natural gas production, transportation and consumption are not well understood and may be far worse than expected. Natural gas contains at least 80% methane, a potent greenhouse gas with a global warming potential 72 times greater than CO2 over a 20-year period and over 20 times greater than CO2 over a 100-year period. This presentation will uncover the magnitude and impact of methane fugitive emissions – current and future, discuss technologies and methodologies for reliably detecting and measuring natural gas emissions, the economic value of capturing emissions and the government’s role in controlling methane and other GHG emission factors associated with fossil fuel production, distribution and transportation and end-use.
Biography
