Methane-rich gas emissions from natural geologic seeps can be chemically distinguished from anthropogenic leaks
Abstract Fossil methane, a key component of the atmospheric greenhouse gas budget, is emitted by fugitive leaks from petroleum industry activities and natural geologic seepage. Since the gas from these two sources can exhibit similar isotopic compositions, differentiating them using atmospheric obse...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Nature Portfolio
2025-01-01
|
| Series: | Communications Earth & Environment |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-024-01990-8 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1841544303187329024 |
|---|---|
| author | Lisa J. Molofsky Giuseppe Etiope Daniel C. Segal Mark A. Engle |
| author_facet | Lisa J. Molofsky Giuseppe Etiope Daniel C. Segal Mark A. Engle |
| author_sort | Lisa J. Molofsky |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Fossil methane, a key component of the atmospheric greenhouse gas budget, is emitted by fugitive leaks from petroleum industry activities and natural geologic seepage. Since the gas from these two sources can exhibit similar isotopic compositions, differentiating them using atmospheric observations is often challenging. Here, we provide a conceptual model that helps distinguish the two sources. Using molecular and isotopic data from global seep and reservoir gas inventories, and new seep analyses from major hydrocarbon-bearing basins in California, we identify six post-genetic changes in gas chemistry. These changes include alterations of molecular ratios among alkanes (ethane, propane, and butane) and 13C enrichment of propane and carbon dioxide due to oxidation and secondary methanogenesis. Such changes are typical of seepage, and do not occur in deep reservoir gas that may leak during extraction and transport. Our model can aid in source attribution of fossil gas analyzed in airborne or field surveys and serve as a foundation for future work on regional emissions of natural gas. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-a13439a95de84906a55a4e978c2bd0ad |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2662-4435 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Communications Earth & Environment |
| spelling | doaj-art-a13439a95de84906a55a4e978c2bd0ad2025-01-12T12:41:13ZengNature PortfolioCommunications Earth & Environment2662-44352025-01-016111010.1038/s43247-024-01990-8Methane-rich gas emissions from natural geologic seeps can be chemically distinguished from anthropogenic leaksLisa J. Molofsky0Giuseppe Etiope1Daniel C. Segal2Mark A. Engle3Department of Earth, Environmental and Resource Sciences, The University of Texas at El PasoIstituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Roma 2Chevron Environment and SustainabilityDepartment of Earth, Environmental and Resource Sciences, The University of Texas at El PasoAbstract Fossil methane, a key component of the atmospheric greenhouse gas budget, is emitted by fugitive leaks from petroleum industry activities and natural geologic seepage. Since the gas from these two sources can exhibit similar isotopic compositions, differentiating them using atmospheric observations is often challenging. Here, we provide a conceptual model that helps distinguish the two sources. Using molecular and isotopic data from global seep and reservoir gas inventories, and new seep analyses from major hydrocarbon-bearing basins in California, we identify six post-genetic changes in gas chemistry. These changes include alterations of molecular ratios among alkanes (ethane, propane, and butane) and 13C enrichment of propane and carbon dioxide due to oxidation and secondary methanogenesis. Such changes are typical of seepage, and do not occur in deep reservoir gas that may leak during extraction and transport. Our model can aid in source attribution of fossil gas analyzed in airborne or field surveys and serve as a foundation for future work on regional emissions of natural gas.https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-024-01990-8 |
| spellingShingle | Lisa J. Molofsky Giuseppe Etiope Daniel C. Segal Mark A. Engle Methane-rich gas emissions from natural geologic seeps can be chemically distinguished from anthropogenic leaks Communications Earth & Environment |
| title | Methane-rich gas emissions from natural geologic seeps can be chemically distinguished from anthropogenic leaks |
| title_full | Methane-rich gas emissions from natural geologic seeps can be chemically distinguished from anthropogenic leaks |
| title_fullStr | Methane-rich gas emissions from natural geologic seeps can be chemically distinguished from anthropogenic leaks |
| title_full_unstemmed | Methane-rich gas emissions from natural geologic seeps can be chemically distinguished from anthropogenic leaks |
| title_short | Methane-rich gas emissions from natural geologic seeps can be chemically distinguished from anthropogenic leaks |
| title_sort | methane rich gas emissions from natural geologic seeps can be chemically distinguished from anthropogenic leaks |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-024-01990-8 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT lisajmolofsky methanerichgasemissionsfromnaturalgeologicseepscanbechemicallydistinguishedfromanthropogenicleaks AT giuseppeetiope methanerichgasemissionsfromnaturalgeologicseepscanbechemicallydistinguishedfromanthropogenicleaks AT danielcsegal methanerichgasemissionsfromnaturalgeologicseepscanbechemicallydistinguishedfromanthropogenicleaks AT markaengle methanerichgasemissionsfromnaturalgeologicseepscanbechemicallydistinguishedfromanthropogenicleaks |