Routine Direct Measurements of Refinery Emissions of Total Alkanes Over the Last 5 Years in the Los Angeles Air Basin

Abstract:

Crude oil extraction, refining, storage and transport is widespread within the Los Angeles air basin. The air pollution associated with these activities is a major concern from both a public health and environmental perspective. The quantification of such emissions is an important step toward understanding the human health and environmental impact of such industrial activity. Currently emissions from the various petroleum activity and facilities is self-reported and estimated based on empirical calculations. The database of direct flux measurements of fugitive emissions from petroleum facilities (refineries, oil wells etc.) is extremely limited and as a result the accuracy of emission estimates is largely untested and thus the potential impact of such emissions on human and environmental health is unknown. We present the results from routine direct flux measurements of fugitive emissions from seven major petroleum refineries in the South Coast Air Basin. These optical remote sensing measurements were made from August 2015 through 2020 totaling over 1000 individual flux measurements. Measurements like these represent a crucial first step in better understanding the actual magnitude of refinery emissions, and quantifying the human health impact of the petroleum industry.