Modeling Global Oil and Gas Lifecycle Emissions Using Carbon Monitoring System Data

Abstract:

The petroleum sector is a major source of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, but large discrepancies remain between inventories (self-reported and bottom-up estimates) and measurements (top-down monitoring) of emissions from highly variable oil and gas operations. Additional diagnostic tools using engineering models to assess lifecycle emissions from the oil and gas supply-chain (production, processing, refining, and shipping) can help explain these discrepancies, attribute emissions under normal and upset conditions, and improve measurement targets. The Oil Climate Index + Gas (OCI⁺) model analyzes diverse global petroleum resources and processes and estimates and disaggregates the sources of their wide-ranging carbon dioxide equivalent emissions, including CO₂, methane, and nitrous oxide. Carbon Monitoring System (CMS) data already serve as OCI⁺ user inputs for gas flaring, including the NASA-NOAA satellite, Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS). Other existing CMS products, such as Tropospheric Monitoring Instrument (TROPOMI) and Airborne Visible-Infrared Imaging Spectrometer – Next Generation (AVIRIS-NG) could provide additional OCI⁺ inputs and new visualization capabilities for measured methane and modeled oil and gas emissions. Future CMS products may offer new data for gas speciation, glint observations over water, land-use disruption, black carbon, and other GHG emissions. Scientific information about CMS data access, appropriate use, and integration are critical for improving oil and gas system GHG models.