Makes one wondr about all the media stories that contain the seemingly obligatory reference that "natural gas is much cleaner than coal."
Jim Sconyers jim_scon@yahoo.com 304.698.9628
Remember: Mother Nature bats last.
________________________________ From: James Kotcon jkotcon@wvu.edu To: dfvet@aol.com; DSGJr@aol.com; jbc329@earthlink.net; Leslee McCarty lesleemac1@frontier.com; Nicole Good nicolegood.wv@gmail.com; ec@osenergy.org; Mary@yahoo.com Sent: Thu, January 27, 2011 12:26:24 PM Subject: [EC] EPA: Methane emissions from Marcellus wells greater than previously reported.
The initial press story I saw was Tuesday, but it appears the story may be a couple months old by now. It suggests that methane emissions from Marcellus wells may be 9000 times greater than previously estimated.
Climate Benefits of Natural Gas May Be Overstated by Abrahm Lustgarten ProPublica, Jan. 25, 2011, 8:34 a.m.
The United States is poised to bet its energy future on natural gas as a clean, plentiful fuel that can supplant coal and oil. But new research by the Environmental Protection Agency—and a growing understanding of the pollution associated with the full “life cycle” of gas production—is casting doubt on the assumption that gas offers a quick and easy solution to climate change.
More available at: http://www.propublica.org/article/natural-gas-and-coal-pollution-gap-in-doub...
The actual EPA report (Technical Support Document: Petroleum and Natural Gas Systems) was apparently released in November and is available at: http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/emissions/downloads10/Subpart-W_TSD.pdf
In particular, Tables 1 and 2 (pages 8-10) describe the updates to the emissions factors. Those referencing "unconventional wells" represent some changes that are truly astronomical. If each Marcellus well is, in fact, leaking 177 tons of methane per well each time they hydro-frack, then that makes them significant sources of emissions.
Finally, the story is explained in more lay terms in the blog at the site below: http://theenergycollective.com/david-lewis/48209/epa-confirms-high-natural-g...
I recommend reading all three of these, as I think this is a game changer for the natural gas industry. It certainly changes the game on the Wetzel air permit appeal.
Jim Kotcon
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