| Preliminary Assessment
of the Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Natural Gas obtained by Hydraulic
Fracturing. Robert W. Howarth, David R. Atkinson, Professor
of
Ecology & Environmental Biology, Cornell University. March 17,
2010, Draft. Extensive Regional Atmospheric Hydrocarbon Pollution on the Southwestern United States. Sherwood Rowland, August 15, 2003.( http://www.pnas.org/content/100/21/11975.full - for the pdf: http://www.pnas.org/content/100/21/11975.full.pdf ) Curbing Emissions by Sealing Gas Leaks. New York Times, October 14, 2009. ( http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/15/business/energy-environment/15degrees.html?_r=2 ) Methane Emissions from the Natural Gas Industry. EPA, June 1997. (EPA/600/SR-96/080) http://p2pays.net/ref/07/06348.pdf Fugitive Emissions From Oil And Natural Gas Activities. http://www.ipcc-nggip.iges.or.jp/public/gp/bgp/2_6_Fugitive_Emissions_from_Oil_and_Natural _Gas.pdf The following is an excerpt (June 3, 2010) from Wikipedia, Natural Gas, Environmental Effects, describing the projected impacts of increased natural gas use. CO2 Emissions
Natural gas is often described as the cleanest fossil fuel, producing less carbon dioxide per joule delivered than either coal or oil.[13], and far fewer pollutants than other fossil fuels. However, in absolute terms it does contribute substantially to global carbon emissions, and this contribution is projected to grow. According to the IPCC Fourth Assessment Report (Working Group III Report, Chapter 4), in 2004 natural gas produced about 5,300 Mt/yr of CO2 emissions, while coal and oil produced 10,600 and 10,200 respectively (Figure 4.4); but by 2030, according to an updated version of the SRES B2 emissions scenario, natural gas would be the source of 11,000 Mt/yr, with coal and oil now 8,400 and 17,200 respectively.[24] (Total global emissions for 2004 were estimated at over 27,200 Mt.) In addition, natural gas itself is a greenhouse gas (methane) far more potent than carbon dioxide when released into the atmosphere, although released in much smaller quantities. Natural gas is mainly composed of methane, which has a radiative forcing twenty times greater than carbon dioxide. This means a ton of methane in the atmosphere traps in as much radiation as 20 tons of carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide still receives the lion's share of attention over greenhouse gases because it is released in much larger amounts. Still, it is inevitable in using natural gas on a large scale that some of it will leak into the atmosphere. Current USEPA estimates place global emissions of methane at 3 trillion cubic feet annually[25], or 3.2% of global production[26]. Direct emissions of methane represented 14.3% of all global anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions in 2004 [27]. 13. ^ a b Natural Gas
and the Environment
14. ^ "Natural Gas Vehicle Statistics". International Association for Natural Gas Vehicles. http://www.iangv.org/tools-resources/statistics.html. Retrieved 2009-10-19. 15. ^ Pike Research (2009-10-19). "Forecast: 17M Natural Gas Vehicles Worldwide by 2015". Green Car Congress. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2009/10/forecast-17m-natural-gas-vehicles-worldwide-by-2015. Retrieved 2009-10-19. 16. ^ Clean Engine Vehicle, Measurement and Control Laboratory 17. ^ PSC Tupolev - Development of Cryogenic Fuel Aircraft 18. ^ Gas Infrasturcture Europe, retrieved June 18. 2009 19. ^ Hyne, Norman J. (1991). Dictionary of petroleum exploration, drilling & production. pg. 190: PennWell Books. pp. 625. ISBN 0878143521. 20. ^ Satellite observation of flares in the world 21. ^ satellite observation of methane in earth's atmosphere 22. ^ The Contours of the New Cold War 23. ^ Gazprom and Russian Foreign Policy 24. ^ [1] 25. ^ nytimes.com: Curbing Emissions by Sealing Gas Leaks 26. ^ Wolfram Alpha query: "World Natural Gas Production" 27. ^ US EPA: Climate Economics |