Volatile Organic Compound Emissions from Oil and Gas Production Sources: A Pilot Study in Northeastern Oklahoma

Abstract:

Volatile organic compounds can be emitted from multiple sources, and as such, it would be useful for a facility to be able to distinguish emissions originating inside battery limits (ISBL) from those originating from external sources. A field campaign of ambient air sampling was conducted at the Phillips 66 Research Center located in Northeastern Oklahoma. The surface measurement campaign included ambient air measurement using two hour and six hour time-integrated canister sampling and measurement of meteorological data. A total of 238 ambient air samples were collected between February and April of 2015 and the concentrations of 55 different hydrocarbons were measured in each of these samples. C₂-C₅ alkanes were the most dominant hydrocarbons measured during this study with their mean concentrations ranging from 1.5 to 13.6 ppb. The data analysis identified oil and gas production as the primary source of emission. The results and their analysis will be discussed.