Assessing Methane Emissions from Shale Gas Production in China: A Two-Tiered Mobile Measurement Approach.

ABSTRACT: China, holding the world's largest shale gas reserves, lacks precise data on methane emissions from its rapidly expanding production. We introduce a two-tiered mobile measurement approach, using a mobile laboratory to measure methane concentrations across 125 well pads (approximately 750 wells) distributed among four major production blocks (Changning, Weiyuan, Fuling, and Luzhou). These blocks contributed 84% of China's total shale gas production in 2023, providing the first comprehensive ground-level measurements. Stationary downwind monitoring of well pads revealed emission rates from 0.002 to 98.86 kg/h, validated through mobile observations of methane concentrations across the region. Notably, emissions were highly concentrated, with 89% originating from just 10% of the well pads. For

SUBMITTER: Hong P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12810235 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature