A single compressor station site along a gathering line network was monitored for fugitive methane emissions to quantify long-term emissions in Appalachia Virginia. Continuous monitoring was conducted from January 2021 to April 2021. The compressor station undergoing monitoring operated two CAT3516 Tale and one CAT3516 B engines operating at 80% of max output flow. Data presented on methane emissions during this period was gathered with an eddy covariance monitoring station. This station was equipped with an LI-7700 methane analyzer, LI-7500A - CO_2/H_2 O analyzer as well as a sonic anemometer these sensors could be observed remotely through cellular connection. The data is represented in flux output ((µmol)/(s m^2 )) as well as kg CO_2 equivalence of methane outlined by the EPA greenhouse gas inventory. The average daily emissions for this compressor station are estimated to be 136 kg CO_2 equivalent emissions. This study shows that the site during the observational period the compressor station emitted on average are estimated to be 5.43 kg of CH_4 per day. / Master of Science / There has been an increased interest in quantifying and recording methane (CH_4) emissions among all sectors. A main focus of interest among methane is to understand fugitive gasses and emissions resulting from the natural gas sector. Leaks along pipelines are most likely occurring at connection points between components. This study aimed to continuously monitor a pipeline compressor station in Appalachia Virginia. Compressor stations are just one component of the pipeline network as well as the natural gas production and delivery chain attributed with CH_4 emissions.
To monitor methane emissions at the site a stationary eddy covariance monitoring station was installed that was equipped with an open path methane analyzer, open path CO_2 and H_2 O analyzer, and a sonic anemometer. The data gathered was used to calculate the flux of methane which is the amount of methane being generated or absorbed by the area of interest. The goal of this study was to continuously monitor methane emissions of a natural gas compressor station. Data presented in this study was collected from January 2021 to April 2021. Data was presented in the flux output ((µmol)/(s m^2 )) as well as kg CO_2 equivalence of methane outlined by the EPA greenhouse gas inventory.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:VTETD/oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/107804 |
| Date | 19 January 2022 |
| Creators | Lataille, Roger Andrew |
| Contributors | Mining Engineering, Ripepi, Nino S., Sarver, Emily A., Chen, Cheng |
| Publisher | Virginia Tech |
| Source Sets | Virginia Tech Theses and Dissertation |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | ETD, application/pdf |
| Rights | Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International, http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ |
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