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OIL AND GAS EXPLORATION IN THE SHALES Air pollution from diesel-forgotten aspect David R. Celebrezze, Director of Air & Water Special Projects March 23, 2012
OIL AND GAS EXPLORATION IN
THE SHALESAir pollution from
diesel-forgotten aspect
David R. Celebrezze,Director of Air & Water Special
ProjectsMarch 23, 2012
Ohio Environmental Council
« Advocacy, non-profit« Legislative initiatives« Legal action« Science and policy« Network and partnerships
Overview of Today’s Presentation • What is fracking?• OEC’s call for a moratorium• Many impacts• Air impacts
• Diesel engines• Ohio EPA’s General Permit
• Good points• shortfalls
• Air Emission data• Potential solutions
Gas drilling in deep shale = unconventional
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OEC’s positionThe Ohio General Assembly should immediately issue a moratorium ordering the Ohio Department of Natural Resources to withhold approval of new well permits involving high volume, horizontal hydraulic drilling, exploration, or extraction until such time as drilling practices are demonstrated to be safe for the environment and human health, and are properly regulated.
Air Impacts
Diesel exhaust-what is in it?« Particulate matter (PM)
« Nitrogen oxides (NOx)
« Volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
« Hydrocarbons (HC)
« Sulfur oxides (SOx)
« Air toxins (benzene, dioxins, formaldehyde, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) = 40 chemicals
US EPA on road and nonroad rules« on road
« 2006- wide spread use of ultra low sulfur diesel vehicles« 2007- All 2007 and newer HDDV have diesel particulate filters installed
(90% cleaner)
«Nonroad rule (construction diesel equipment)« Phased in approach started in 2008 through 2014 (for most engines;
engines greater than 750 hp have one additional year to comply)« EPA estimates this rule has a40 to 10 benefit-cost ratio« 12,000 fewer deaths« Hundreds of thousands of fewer respiratory problems
Nonroad engine tiers
«One 175 hp bulldozer emits as much PM as 500 new cars.
«One unregulated engine = 32 Tier 4 interim machines (PM) and 6 tier 4 interim machines for NOx
Tier 4 are 90% cleaner in PM and NOx than tier zero.
Diesel PM 2.5 emission break out
Source: US EPA
Source: US EPA
Diesel exhaust impacts on health: Asthma Attacks
Aggravation of Chronic Bronchitis
Painful Breathing
Leukemia
Heart and Lung Disease
Cancer
Preventable Death
US EPA has diesel exhaust listed as a “probable” carcinogen
DIESEL EMISSIONS ARE THE #1 AIR TOXICS CANCER RISK IN THE U.S.
Diesel exhaust affects public health: Asthma Attacks
Aggravation of Chronic Bronchitis
Painful Breathing
Leukemia
Heart and Lung Disease
Cancer
Preventable Death
US EPA has diesel exhaust listed as a “probable” carcinogen
DIESEL EMISSIONS ARE THE #1 AIR TOXICS CANCER RISK IN THE U.S.
Health studies Dr. Qingua Sun, (OSU, College of Public Health)
Particulate Air Pollution on Human Health exposure to whole diesel exhaust (WDE) enhances angiogenesis/vasculogenesis
(cancers are dependant upon them for their growth)
Toxicity of Diesel Exhaust: Implications for Primary Care (2008)Acute cardiac syndromeCoronary artery diseaseCancerHypertensionLinked to lower birth weight in infants, premature births, congenital abnormalities, elevated infant mortality rate.
Exposure to diesel exhaust induces changes in EEG in human volunteers (2008)Ambient particulate matter and nanoparticles have been show to translocate to the brain.
Environmental impacts
Ozone: Effects on Plantsinterfering with the ability of sensitive plants to produce and store food, making them more susceptible to certain diseases, insects, other pollutants, competition and harsh weather;
damaging the leaves of trees and other plants, negatively impacting the appearance of urban vegetation, as well as vegetation in national parks and recreation areas; and
reducing forest growth and crop yields, potentially impacting species diversity in ecosystems.
Diesel exhaust:Climate change
2,000 more potent than CO2 over 20 year period
Deadening of waterways
Ohio EPA General Permit Regulation-highlights
«Ahead of the curve
« Addresses emissions in the production phase
«Prohibits open pit storage for a general permit (applicant can apply for an individual permit and do open pit storage)
« Source of methane and VOCs.
«Some requirements on stationary diesel engines
«Looking at quantity of waste water stored versus size of tanks
«Dust controls on created road
OEPA does not cover…«Clearing of a location
«Drilling phase
«Completion (“fracking”) phase
Diesel engines and shale exploration: some numbers
« Based on data provided to the Ohio EPA from industry
«Examined 8 wells in PA and WV
«Wide range of emissions
«Ohio may be different« Utica shale deeper
than Marcellus
All three phases-averages
«Fuel used: 29,000 gallons (least 9,000; most 61,000) over 4.6 days with 14.5 fracking stages
Drilling phase-diesel engines only«PM low end:
« 240 pounds«PM high end:
« 560 pounds
«NOx low end« 7,560 pounds
«NOx high end« 17,640 pounds
«VOCs low end« 318 pounds,
«VOCs high end« 742 pounds
Low end is based on 3 vehicles per pad; high end based on 7 vehicles per pad
Completion (fracturing) phase-diesel engines/flowback gas vented prior to flaring/flowback gas flared
«PM average (based on tier 2 engine standards):« 811 pounds
«NOx “average”« 5,328 pounds
«VOCs “average”« 764 pounds ”average” assumes tier 2 engines
are being used. This average was looked at 9 drilling rigs operating in the Marcellus
Other areas: Texas, Wyoming, Colorado, Utah
«Barnett Shale oil and gas extraction in TX in 2009 in DFW metro area:
« Predicted 165 tons per day on average in 5 counties
« DFW area on road vehicles emitted 121 tpd in the 5 county area
«University of Colorado Denver School of Public Health
« ”The greatest health impact corresponds to the relatively short-term, but high emission well-completion period,” the study said.
« Elevated ozone risk
How many wells?
«End of 2011: 8
«End 2012: 100-150
«2013-2014: 1,400 – 1,600
