| Published | 2011 / 08 |
| Summary | This study estimates the life cycle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from the production of Marcellus shale natural gas and compares its emissions with national average US natural gas emissions produced in the year 2008, prior to any significant Marcellus shale development. The report estimates an 11% increase in GHG emissions relative to average domestic gas (excluding combustion) and a 3% increase relative to the life cycle emissions when combustion is included. The life cycle GHG emissions of Marcellus shale natural gas are estimated to be an average of 68 g CO2e/MJ of gas produced. Marcellus shale natural gas GHG emissions are comparable to those of imported liquefied natural gas. Natural gas from the Marcellus shale has generally lower life cycle GHG emissions than coal for production of electricity in the absence of any effective carbon capture and storage processes, by 20?50% depending upon plant efficiencies and natural gas emissions variability. There is significant uncertainty in the Marcellus shale GHG emission estimates due to eventual production volumes and variability in flaring, construction and transportation. |
| Organizations | |
| Keywords | life cycle assessment, greenhouse gases, Marcellus shale, natural gas, life cycle analysis |
| File name | Environ. Res. Lett. Carnegie Mellon University_20110805_ Life cycle greenhouse gas emissions of Marcellus shale gas.pdf |