| Abstract Title: | Mapping anthropogenic methane emissions in the Groningen area |
| Presenter Name: | Mr Martijn Oudshoorn |
| Co-authors: | Prof Huilin Chen |
| Company/Organisation: | University of Groningen |
| Country: | Netherlands |
Abstract Information :
Methane (CH4) emissions in the municipality of Groningen and parts of the Province of Groningen are explored using a mobile laboratory. The focus was on urban areas and midstream natural gas infrastructure CH4 emissions, specifically to identify CH4 sources within the municipality, and to start with quantifying known CH4 emitters in the area. A mobile laboratory with a cavity ring-down spectrometer (Picarro Inc.) was set up to measure CH4 concentrations while driving around slowly in the city of Groningen and visiting known CH4 emitters in the province. A total of ten measurement days were performed, with three days in August, five days in September, and two days in October 2018. A list of facilities including one upstream gas facility, two midstream gas facilities, a sugar processing factory and digesters have been measured. The city of Groningen was measured twice. Overall, no major leaking gas pipes seem to be present within the city of Groningen, with the exception of a gas pipe that was under construction. It was discovered that an organic waste digester, not present in the Dutch inventories, is the largest CH4 emitter in the Groningen landfill area. A large range in the estimate of the emission rate was found (8.5-1440 CH4 g/s) for the biodigester. Outside the city, an underground natural gas storage facility with a capacity of 2 Gm3 has been surveyed. The emission rate was estimated to be within a range 10-21 CH4 g/s. The study shows that more work should be done to better quantify the emission rates. More plumes should be measured in a short amount of time to reduce the uncertainties due to atmospheric variabilities. This can be done by both in situ mobile van measurements and the deployment of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).
