Evaluation of Methane Emissions in Daily Operations and Accidents: A Case Study of a Local Distribution Company in China

Yitong Xie, Chaokui Qin (), Cong Wu, Lubing Zhang and Ping Cao
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Yitong Xie: Gas Engineering Institute, School of Mechanical Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200000, China
Chaokui Qin: Gas Engineering Institute, School of Mechanical Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200000, China
Cong Wu: Gas Engineering Institute, School of Mechanical Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200000, China
Lubing Zhang: Shanghai Shibei Gas Sales Corp., Shanghai 200000, China
Ping Cao: Shanghai Shibei Gas Sales Corp., Shanghai 200000, China

Energies, 2023, vol. 16, issue 4, 1-12

Abstract: As the second-largest contributor to historical global warming, methane emissions must be controlled to slow down temperature increase and achieve climate benefits. Due to a lack of knowledge about the specific sources and processes, a quantitative approach will lead to inaccurate estimation. In this paper, a typical local distribution company with more than 100 years of operation history was chosen. Detailed procedures of pipeline constructions and accidents were investigated, and critical steps leading to methane emissions were clarified. Then emission quantification methodologies for all processes were proposed, including a new pipeline connection, new regulator connection, emergency repair and third-party damages. As a basis for emission estimation, the distribution of parameters, such as diameter, length and pressure, was counted. Then the emission rates of all projects were calculated, and emission factors were established. The average emission rates of the new pipeline connection, new regulator connection, emergency repair, third-party damage (medium pressure) and third-party damage (low pressure) were 234 kg, 147 kg, 217 kg, 17,282 kg and 62 kg, respectively. In addition, the total methane emission in China from these sources was estimated to be about 5 × 10 4 t, which is large enough to attract attention. The work in this paper aims to establish a reasonable framework to evaluate venting methane emissions from the distribution process of natural gas.

Keywords: methane emission; estimation; emission factor; local distribution company (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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