AUTHOR=Mead Griffin J. , Waxman Eleanor M. , Bon Daniel , Herman Daniel I. , Baumann Esther , Giorgetta Fabrizio R. , Friedlein Jacob T. , Ycas Gabriel , Newbury Nathan R. , Coddington Ian , Cossel Kevin C. 

TITLE=Open-path dual-comb spectroscopy of methane and VOC emissions from an unconventional oil well development in Northern Colorado

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Chemistry

VOLUME=Volume 11 - 2023

YEAR=2023

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/chemistry/articles/10.3389/fchem.2023.1202255

DOI=10.3389/fchem.2023.1202255

ISSN=2296-2646

ABSTRACT=We present results from a field study monitoring methane and volatile organic compound emission near an unconventional oil well development in Northern Colorado from September 2019 to May 2020 using a mid-infrared dual-comb spectrometer. Uniquely, this instrument allowed quantification of methane, ethane, and propane in a single measurement with high time resolution and integrated path sampling. Using ethane and propane as tracer gases for methane from oil and gas activity, we observed emissions during the drilling, hydraulic fracturing, millout, and flowback phases of well development. Large emissions were seen in drilling and millout phases and emissions decreased to background levels during the flowback phase. Methane plumes from a nearby landfill were distinguished from the well site using differences in the ethane/methane mixing ratios.