Quantification of Methane Emissions from In situ and Surface mines in the Athabasca Oil Sands Region of Alberta by Aircraft Mass Balance

Abstract:

High time resolution aircraft-based measurements of methane (CH4) and other air pollutants in the Athabasca Oil Sands Region (AOSR) were made during two intensive field campaigns between 5 April to 15 April 2018 and 30 May to 5 July 2018 respectively in support of the Canadian Oil Sands Monitoring (OSM) plan. Chemical signatures will be used to identify CH4 sources from tailings ponds (BTEX VOCs), open pit surface mines (NOx and rBC) and elevated plumes from bitumen upgrading facilities (SO2 and NOx) where meteorological conditions promote such source identification. Emission rates of CH4 will be determined for eight in situ mining facilities and seven surface mining facilities in the region using the Top-down Emission Rate Retrieval Algorithm (TERRA) mass-balance approach (Gordon et al., 2015). Emission rates between the two different mining techniques employed by industry in the AOSR will be compared. The emission rates reported here are relevant for the spring and summer seasons. These measurements in different seasons further our understanding of the seasonal parameters affecting fugitive emissions of CH4 and allow for better estimates of annual emissions.