Thursday, May 28, 2009

State Data Support Conclusions of EDF/SMU Study on Barnett Shale Emissions

Al Armendariz, Ph.D. from SMU has issued a press release. Back in January 2009 Dr. Armendariz and the Environmental Defense Fund released information from a study about the negative effects of Barnett Shale Gas Drilling on the DFW Metroplex air quality. Of course, the Oil and Gas Industry tried to dispute it and couldn't come up with valid information to back it up. Now the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality has finished their study and agree with Dr. Armendariz and the Environmental Defense Fund. The TCEQ study came up with more information on the negative effects. Below is a copy of the whole press release. After you read it you can go to the links to get more information.
This sentenced jumped out at me.
"This new data also estimated that emissions for the entire 19-counties of
the Barnett Shale area were approximately 200 tons per day."


from the desk of Al Armendariz, Ph.D.
STATE DATA SUPPORTS CONCLUSIONS OF EDF/SMU STUDY ON BARNETT SHALE EMISSIONS

Oil and gas sector emissions in the Dallas-Fort Worth area are significant, but cost-effective solutions are available to reduce the environmental impact and increase revenue for oil and gas producers.
From 2004 to 2007, officials from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) worked to develop the latest version of the clean air plan for the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area, with input from other stakeholders including US EPA, local and regional governments, the business community, EDF, and other environmental groups. In May 2007, at the hearing when the TCEQ adopted the clean air plan, testimony was presented which indicated that oil and gas sector sources in the Barnett Shale area around the city of Fort Worth were greatly underestimated in the clean air plan. This testimony cast serious doubt on the accuracy of the photochemical modeling at the core of the state’s plan. Nonetheless, the TCEQ commissioners adopted the plan.
In the state’s May 2007 clean air plan, oil and gas sources in the 9-county DFW metropolitan area were estimated to produce only 26 tons per day (tpd) of smog-forming nitrogen oxides and volatile organic emissions.
There is a common misconception that all the natural gas being produced in the Barnett Shale is “clean” gas, with no impact to the environment. While it is true that the use of natural gas for electricity generation results in much lower emissions of sulfur, mercury, and greenhouse gases compared to coal, the production (upstream) and processing and transport (midstream) parts of the natural gas sector can have very large environmental impacts. The official records from the Texas Railroad Commission demonstrate that oil/gas activity in the approximately 20 counties of the Barnett Shale area produces hundreds of thousands of barrels of condensate liquid and crude oil, which are stored in thousands of above-ground tanks that vent to the atmosphere.
Since May 2007, independent efforts were undertaken by both the TCEQ and SMU/EDF to estimate the real magnitude of oil and gas sector emissions. The SMU/EDF effort was lead by me and coordinated by Dr. Ramon Alvarez of the Austin office of EDF. The new data compiled by the TCEQ after May 2007 estimates that smog-forming emissions in the 9-county D-FW metropolitan area were approximately 90 tpd. This new data also estimated that emissions for the entire 19-counties of the Barnett Shale area were approximately 200 tons per day.

These updated state results are extremely consistent with the independently-produced results of the SMU/EDF study that I released in January 2009. For the 2007 calendar year, I estimated emissions in the 9-county metropolitan area to be 112 tpd on average and I estimated estimates for the entire 19-county Barnett Shale area to be 191 tpd on average. These numbers are within 10-20% of the TCEQ estimates (90 vs 100, 200 vs 191).
In my report I also accounted for the increase in VOC and HAP emissions that occurs on peak summer days because of heating of volatile compounds in storage tanks. I estimated emissions to be 165 tpd in the 9-county metro area and 307 tpd in the entire Barnett Shale area during a hot summer day.
The fact that separate efforts by the TCEQ and SMU/EDF to correct the emissions inventory for oil/gas sector sources in the D-FW area are coming to the same approximate answer is satisfying. Claims earlier this year by some gas company representatives that my estimates were too high by a factor of 5 or more appear to be completely unsupportable.
While it would have been best to have the updated TCEQ data in the emissions inventory and photochemical computer modeling prior to TCEQ adoption of the DFW clean air plan in May 2007, it is clear that in the future, state and federal regulators will have a more accurate picture of the true magnitude of emissions from the oil/gas sector in this part of Texas.
It is unfortunate that the oil and gas sector chose to lobby against common sense measures that were introduced in the Texas Legislature this year that would have both reduced emissions, plus resulted in increased revenue to producers from the capture of excess hydrocarbons that are otherwise being vented to the atmosphere.
Nonetheless, I hope the industry realizes that the days of venting methane and hydrocarbons to the atmosphere are probably numbered. If I was their lobbyist, I would be strongly advising them to take all necessary measures to reduce emissions starting today, to give themselves time, lessen the impact that future initiatives are bound to require, and help protect the environment. my emissions inventory, references, and additional information can be found at:

http://lyle.smu.edu/~aja/barnett-shale.html

Environmental Defense Fund
http://www.edf.org/pressrelease.cfm?contentID=9237&source=edtaf






6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Interesting that the Armendariz study was funeded by the Environmental Defense Fund who often partners with such class acts as John Podesta (Obama and Clinton attack pit bull) and the group "Think Atheist".

Anonymous said...

It doesn't matter who funded it. The TCEQ backed up the research with their own study and came up with the same result. The gas drilling industry hasn't produced any proof to dispute this. This is a huge concern for all of us. Air quality is very important. My hope is that the gas industry will take this serious and do something to clean up their act.

Anonymous said...

So TCEQ is gospel as is Armendariz. It sure as heck does matter who funded it. So what powers your lights. So where will all the pwoer come from, tell me will you. Wind/solar? Not quite. Admit it, you do not want natural gas, nor oil, nor nuclear. This site has Texas Sharon Wilson (and her upside American flag) and Don Young Fort Worth can't do all over it. So when the government takes over everything let me know how you like it. TCEQ is even drinking the Environmental Storm Trooper Kool-Aid now. I do not believe Armendariz, or you or Texas Communist Sharon.

Anonymous said...

If this is the case then Flower Mound looks like a great spot for all this new clean energy (solar panels and Wind Turbines). Eminent Domain proceedings will start shortly. We will relocate you to smaller homes with smaller cars. You people make too much money in the Obama economy.

Anonymous said...

When a study shows up proving Dr. Armendariz wrong, then there might be something to really talk about. Everytime pro gas doesn't have the facts to discredit something, they start with the "you need heat and ac, you want to drive your SUV etc. Communist etc. Really. Why cant there be a civil discussion without the hostilaty. You would be surprised how many people just want drilling done right. Period! Lets face it. It is not being done right and everyone knows it. There is a huge need for reform, better regulations and accountability. In New Mexico and Colorado many changes have been made in gas drilling for the better because of better regulation. Google some of the problems they had and the changes made to their legislation to protect the citizens. Drilling is still going on but with better accountability. We deserve the same here in Texas.

Anonymous said...

There are just as many non-Atheist Republicans who oppose this as atheist Democrats or whatever other label you would care to attach. Denton county is 71% conservative, but by all accounts this issue is split right down the middle, give or take a few percentage points. This is a non-partisian and non-religious issue, please quit trying to make it one. After all, the last time I checked "Greed" was listed as a deadly sin, and opposing a **very small number** of gas wells was not. It "Republicans" like you that give the rest of us a bad rap. Earth was not your creation, but if you poke it in the eye enough and may come back and slap you around.