Evaluation of methane emissions from natural gas production operations using tracer methodologies. Final report, January 1990-October 1992

Methane is second only to carbon dioxide as a greenhouse gas contributor to global warming and, accordingly, methane sources must be fully understood to develop effective energy policies to stabilize global warming and climatic change. The study was concerned with development and demonstration of a measurement methodology to evaluate methane emissions from natural gas production facilities for use in global warming investigations. The method consists of release of a nontoxic inert tracer gas with a known emission rate from the source of unknown methane emissions and the sampling of downwind tracer and methane concentrations.