Review of Compressor and Leak White Papers

Hello,

I am Derek Johnson, a research assistant professor at West Virginia University's Center for Alternative 

Fuels, Engines, and Emissions (CAFEE). We recently participated in the Environmental Defense Funds 

(EDF) Barnett Methane Emissions Campaign in October of 2013. See the following links for additional 

information 

(http://www.edf.org/media/agu­fall­meeting­scientists­discuss­innovations­better­define­us­methaneemissions , http://wvutoday.wvu.edu/n/2014/01/17/wvu­researchers­participate­in­methanequantification­campaign ). 

I just reviewed both the White Paper on Compressors and the White Paper on Leaks 

(20140414compressors.pdf and 20140415leaks.pdf). We have currently obtained a small data set that 

relates to these efforts.

The goal of the WVU team was originally to quantify leaks and losses occurring at production wellheads. However, due to limited access WVU augmented their portion of the study to focus on leak and 

loss audits of five natural gas compressor and storage facilities. The WVU teams consisted of 6­8 

faculty, researchers, technicians, and graduate research assistants. The teams used handheld methane 

detectors and a FLIR 320 infrared camera to detect leak and loss components at these facilities. WVU 

typically used a detection threshold of 500 PPM or lower as opposed to the industry standard 10,000 

PPM. When leaks and losses were detected, a WVU developed micro­dilution high volume sampling 

system was used to capture the entire leak. Flow and methane were measured in­situ when possible 

using portable Los Gatos Research Greenhouse Gas Analyzers. In some cases bag samples were 

collected and speciated for methane, ethane, and propane. 

WVU has currently submitted its final confidential report to the EDF. The EDF and collaborators are 

currently analyzing the entire data sets from all teams to develop synthesis results to estimate 

methane emission in the Barnett. In addition to the group publications WVU has submitted two papers 

to the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME). The first technical publications focuses on 

the leaks and losses associated with only the engine and compressor units at these facilities (ICEF2014­

5626, under review) and will be presented at the October 2014 ICE Conference. This report will focus 

on the engine/turbine emissions, crankcase emissions, reciprocating compressor packing losses, and 

turbine wet seal losses, and any leaking components of the engine and compressor units. The second 

technical publication (IMECE2014­38582, under review) focuses on the reduction potential of using 

Derek Johnson <Derek.Johnson@mail.wvu.edu>

Thu 5/15/2014 2:57 PM

To:OilandGas.Whitepapers <OilandGas.Whitepapers@epa.gov>; 

Cc:acoving1@mix.wvu.edu <acoving1@mix.wvu.edu>; David Lyon <dlyon@edf.org>; 

Review of Compressor and Leak White Papers - OilandGas.Whitepapers Page 1 of 2

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close crankcase technology on fugitive methane mitigation and the potential reduction of additional 

site losses through fumigation into the engine intakes for combustion. The findings will be presented at 

the International Mechanical Engineering Conference and Exposition in Montreal Canada in November 

of 2014. 

WVU is currently further analyzing the complete data set to produce three additional publications. One 

of these publications will focus on the total data set as submitted in the confidential report to the EDF. 

A second manuscript will compared the measured emissions rates of specific components (engines, 

packing seals, etc.) to the currently accepted and reported emissions factors. The final paper will 

examine how the leaks and losses at these facilities compare to the facility throughput from both an 

economic and environmental view. This analysis will compare the losses based on current natural gas 

market values, the GWP of these emissions, and the equivalent social cost of carbon (SCC) from these 

greenhouse gas emissions. 

WVU is currently developing some seed data in the form of 'abandoned' or legacy well emissions and 

believes that additional in­situ quantification of leaks and losses across the natural gas supply chain are 

required to better refine emissions factors used for bottom inventory estimates. WVU and CAFEE will 

be happy to share any data after the EDF and WVU publications are made publicly available. WVU is 

also actively pursuing additional funding opportunities to use its current capabilities to perform 

additional leak and loss research. If there are any questions, comments, or concerns please feel free to 

contact me using the information below. WVU and CAFEE are excited to help and assist in any fashion. 

Sincerely,

Derek Johnson, Ph.D. 

Research Assistant Professor

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Department

Center for Alternative Fuels, Engines, and Emissions

derek.johnson@mail.wvu.edu

(304)­216­6592

cafee.wvu.edu

www.naftc.wvu.edu

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