The exploration for and the production of oil and natural gas can be a primary source of methane (CH4), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), hydrogen sulfide (H2S), sulfur dioxide (SO2), carbon dioxide (CO2), carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen oxides (NOx = NO + NO2), and particulate matter (PM) to the atmosphere.  The actual mix of emissions will likely depend on 1) the composition of the raw natural gas or crude oil, 2) the type of equipment used to drill, process, and transport fossil fuels and produced water, and 3) current industry regulations and best practices.  An extensive assortment of VOCs, methane and non-hydrocarbon gases were measured in ambient air near oil and natural gas operations in the Denver-Julesburg Basin in northeastern Colorado and Utah's Uintah Basin in order to assess the impact of VOC emissions from oil and natural gas emission on local air quality.

Characterizing emissions and assessing air quality impacts from oil and natural gas operations in Colorado and Utah

246th National Meeting (2013)

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