Facility level measurement of offshore oil and gas installations from a medium-sized airborne platform: method development for quantification and source identification of methane emissions
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Published:2021-01-05
Issue:1
Volume:14
Page:71-88
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ISSN:1867-8548
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Container-title:Atmospheric Measurement Techniques
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language:en
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Short-container-title:Atmos. Meas. Tech.
Author:
France James L.ORCID, Bateson Prudence, Dominutti PamelaORCID, Allen GrantORCID, Andrews Stephen, Bauguitte StephaneORCID, Coleman Max, Lachlan-Cope Tom, Fisher Rebecca E.ORCID, Huang Langwen, Jones Anna E.ORCID, Lee JamesORCID, Lowry David, Pitt JosephORCID, Purvis RuthORCID, Pyle JohnORCID, Shaw JacobORCID, Warwick Nicola, Weiss Alexandra, Wilde ShonaORCID, Witherstone Jonathan, Young Stuart
Abstract
Abstract. Emissions of methane (CH4) from offshore oil and gas installations are
poorly ground-truthed, and quantification relies heavily on the use of
emission factors and activity data. As part of the United Nations Climate
& Clean Air Coalition (UN CCAC) objective to study and reduce short-lived
climate pollutants (SLCPs), a Twin Otter aircraft was used to survey CH4
emissions from UK and Dutch offshore oil and gas installations. The aims of
the surveys were to (i) identify installations that are significant CH4
emitters, (ii) separate installation emissions from other emissions using
carbon-isotopic fingerprinting and other chemical proxies, (iii) estimate
CH4 emission rates, and (iv) improve flux estimation (and sampling)
methodologies for rapid quantification of major gas leaks. In this paper, we detail the instrument and aircraft set-up for two
campaigns flown in the springs of 2018 and 2019 over the southern North Sea
and describe the developments made in both the planning and sampling methodology
to maximise the quality and value of the data collected. We present example
data collected from both campaigns to demonstrate the challenges encountered
during offshore surveys, focussing on the complex meteorology of the marine
boundary layer and sampling discrete plumes from an airborne platform. The
uncertainties of CH4 flux calculations from measurements under varying
boundary layer conditions are considered, as well as recommendations for
attribution of sources through either spot sampling for volatile organic compounds (VOCs) ∕ δ13CCH4 or using in situ instrumental data to determine
C2H6–CH4 ratios. A series of recommendations for both
planning and measurement techniques for future offshore work within marine
boundary layers is provided.
Publisher
Copernicus GmbH
Subject
Atmospheric Science
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