Kiera Jefferson
Natural gas is often marketed as a clean energy source, but it is a fossil fuel that contributes to climate change and air and water pollution. The burning of natural gas releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, increasing CO2 levels, trapping heat, and contributing to global climate change. The extraction and transportation of natural gas can also lead to leaks of methane, a potent greenhouse gas. In addition, the production of natural gas through fracking can contaminate groundwater and surface water, and the processing and transport of natural gas can release air pollutants. The transport of LNG over long distances can have significant environmental impacts, as it requires more energy and increases the potential for leaks. So, how much pollution does liquid natural gas cause?
Characteristics of Liquid Natural Gas Pollution
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Air pollution | Releases air pollutants like volatile organic compounds (VOCs), nitrogen oxides (NOx), sulfur dioxide (SO2), carbon monoxide (CO), and particulate matter (PM) |
| Water pollution | Contaminates groundwater and surface water with chemicals, methane, and other pollutants |
| Greenhouse gas emissions | Releases methane, a potent greenhouse gas that traps heat and contributes to climate change |
| Climate change | Contributes to global climate change by increasing CO2 levels and trapping heat |
| Health risks | Linked to respiratory issues, cardiovascular disease, and cancer |
| Environmental impacts | Disturbance of vegetation and soil, land clearing, potential for explosions and spills, and harm to local ecosystems |
| Radioactive contamination | Potential for leaks of naturally occurring radioactive materials |
What You'll Learn
Natural gas leaks during extraction, transportation, and storage
Natural gas is often marketed as a clean energy source. However, it is a fossil fuel that contributes to climate change and air, water, and land pollution. Natural gas leaks during extraction, transportation, and storage are common and have adverse effects on the environment and human health.
Extraction
Leaks during extraction are prevalent, with one study finding that over 10% of wells had leaked at some point. Natural gas can be released into the atmosphere during and after well drilling, with methane being leaked in large quantities. Methane is a powerful greenhouse gas, with a much higher heat-trapping potential than carbon dioxide. Other pollutants, such as volatile organic compounds (VOCs), are also emitted during leaks, contributing to ground-level ozone formation, or smog, which poses health risks to nearby residents. Benzene, another chemical found in natural gas, can contaminate groundwater and affect the health of those who consume it.
The process of extracting natural gas can also lead to land and water pollution. For example, drilling a natural gas well may require clearing and levelling an area, disturbing vegetation and soil. Additionally, hydraulic fracturing (fracking) requires large amounts of water, which can impact aquatic habitats and water availability for other uses. If not properly managed, fracking fluids containing hazardous chemicals can spill or leak, contaminating surrounding areas.
Transportation and Storage
Leaks can also occur during the transportation and storage of natural gas. Transmission pipelines and storage tanks have the potential for fugitive emissions, with various equipment components prone to unintended leaks. These include connectors, valves, pressure relief valves, and storage tank thief hatches. Leaks can be caused by improper fittings, corrosion, worn gaskets, and human error, such as inadvertently leaving valves open.
The environmental and health impacts of natural gas leaks are significant. Methane emissions contribute to global warming, and the release of volatile organic compounds can have detrimental effects on human health. To address these issues, strict government regulations and industry standards are in place to ensure the safe transportation, storage, and distribution of natural gas.
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Fracking contaminates water sources
Natural gas is often marketed as a clean energy source. However, it is a fossil fuel that contributes to climate change and pollutes the air and water. The burning of fossil fuels releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, increasing CO2 levels, trapping heat, and contributing to global climate change. While natural gas is a cleaner-burning resource than coal and liquid petroleum, it still emits a large amount of carbon into the atmosphere in the form of both CO2 and methane.
Fracking, or hydraulic fracturing, is a technique used to extract natural gas. It involves pumping liquids under high pressure into a well to fracture the rock, which allows natural gas to escape from the rock. This process requires large amounts of water, which can impact aquatic habitats and the availability of water for other uses. If mismanaged, the hydraulic fracturing fluid—which may contain potentially hazardous chemicals—could be released through spills, leaks, faulty well construction, or other exposure pathways, contaminating surrounding areas.
There have been documented cases of groundwater near oil and gas wells being contaminated with fracking fluids, as well as with gases, including methane and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). One major cause of gas contamination is improperly constructed or failing wells that allow gas to leak from the well into groundwater. Cases of contamination have been documented in Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wyoming. In one instance, a pipeline rupture in 2014 spilled a million gallons of wastewater on the Fort Berthold Reservation, contaminating Bear Den Bay in Lake Sakakawea, a quarter-mile from where the town of Mandaree draws its drinking water.
Fracking can also impact water sources through the disposal of wastewater. In some cases, wastewater is disposed of in storage pits or underground disposal wells, taken to treatment plants, or spread on roads as a de-icer. However, during transportation or due to equipment malfunction, the wastewater can spill, contaminating the land and water around and beneath it. Additionally, legal loopholes that exempt fracking from certain elements of the Safe Drinking Water Act and the Environmental Protection Agency's hazardous-waste laws put drinking water at risk of contamination.
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Natural gas processing releases air pollutants
Natural gas is often marketed as a clean energy source. However, it is a fossil fuel that emits pollution and contributes to climate change. The burning of natural gas releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, which increases CO2 levels, traps heat, and contributes to global climate change.
The processing and transport of natural gas can release various air pollutants. These include volatile organic compounds (VOCs), nitrogen oxides (NOx), sulfur dioxide (SO2), carbon monoxide (CO), and particulate matter (PM). These pollutants contribute to respiratory problems, heart disease, and other adverse health issues, especially in vulnerable populations such as children, the elderly, and people with pre-existing health conditions.
The production and transport of natural gas can also release methane, a potent greenhouse gas. Methane leaks occur at various stages of the natural gas production and transportation process, including during fracking, processing, and transportation through pipelines and storage tanks. Methane is the main component of natural gas, and it has a much higher heat-trapping potential than carbon dioxide in the short term. Reducing methane leaks is crucial to mitigating the climate impact of natural gas.
Additionally, the construction and land disturbance associated with oil and gas drilling can alter land use and harm local ecosystems. It can cause erosion, fragment wildlife habitats, and impact water resources. The process of fracking, which involves injecting large amounts of water, sand, and chemicals into the ground, can contaminate groundwater and surface water sources with chemicals, methane, and other pollutants. Improperly constructed or failing wells can also allow gas and hydraulic fracturing fluids to leak into groundwater.
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LNG transport emits greenhouse gases
Liquefied natural gas (LNG) is often touted as a cleaner alternative to conventional fuels. LNG is said to emit 25% less carbon dioxide (CO2) than conventional marine fuels. However, LNG is primarily composed of methane, a greenhouse gas that is highly potent. Over a 20-year period, methane is said to be about 86-87 times more potent than CO2 in trapping heat in the atmosphere.
The use of LNG in ships is also problematic. LNG is said to leak into the atmosphere throughout its production and supply chain, and directly from ship funnels. The most popular LNG marine engine is also the leakiest, emitting 70% to 82% more life-cycle GHGs than marine gas oil (MGO). The increasing adoption of LNG-powered ships goes against the Global Methane Pledge, which aims to reduce methane emissions by 30% by 2030.
The production and transportation of LNG also contribute to GHG emissions. Well drilling and the construction of pipelines can disturb vegetation, soil, and water resources, leading to pollution and habitat fragmentation. The process of hydraulic fracturing (fracking) requires large amounts of water, which can impact aquatic habitats and water availability for other uses. If not properly managed, fracking fluids containing hazardous chemicals can contaminate surrounding areas and groundwater.
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Natural gas is a major contributor to climate change
Natural gas is often marketed as a clean energy source, but it is a fossil fuel that significantly contributes to climate change. It is a major source of air pollution, water pollution, and climate change.
The burning of natural gas releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, increasing CO2 levels, trapping heat, and contributing to global climate change. While it emits less carbon dioxide than coal and liquid petroleum, it still emits a large amount of carbon in the form of CO2 and methane. CO2 is released during combustion, the process used to generate electricity. Methane, the main component of natural gas, is a highly potent greenhouse gas, with 80 times the heat-trapping potential of carbon dioxide over the first 20 years after its release. Methane leaks occur at various stages of the natural gas production and transportation process, including during fracking, extraction, processing, transportation, and in homes and businesses where it is burned. These leaks contribute significantly to climate change, and global methane emissions have spiked dramatically since 2002 due to the boom in natural gas extraction.
The production and use of natural gas also lead to other forms of pollution, such as water pollution and air pollution. Fracking, a common method of extracting natural gas, requires large amounts of water and can contaminate groundwater and surface water with chemicals, methane, and other pollutants. It can also cause increased erosion, sedimentation, and aquatic contamination from chemical spills or equipment runoff. Additionally, the construction and land disturbance required for drilling can alter land use, harm local ecosystems, and increase air pollution, with potential health risks for nearby communities.
Furthermore, the processing and transportation of natural gas can release air pollutants such as volatile organic compounds (VOCs), nitrogen oxides (NOx), sulfur dioxide (SO2), carbon monoxide (CO), and particulate matter (PM). These pollutants contribute to respiratory problems, heart disease, and other human health issues, especially in vulnerable populations.
Overall, natural gas is a major contributor to climate change and pollution, and its use has significant environmental and public health impacts. While it may produce fewer emissions than some other fossil fuels, the leakage of methane and other pollutants throughout its production, processing, and transportation cannot be overlooked in the context of climate change and public health.
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Frequently asked questions
Liquid natural gas (LNG) is a fossil fuel that contributes to climate change and air and water pollution. The production and transport of LNG release air pollutants like volatile organic compounds (VOCs), nitrogen oxides (NOx), sulfur dioxide (SO2), carbon monoxide (CO), and particulate matter (PM). LNG tankers emit greenhouse gases and air pollutants, and there is always a risk of accidents or spills that can damage marine ecosystems and harm human health.
The pollutants released during LNG production and transport contribute to respiratory problems, heart disease, and other human health issues, especially in vulnerable populations like children, the elderly, and people with pre-existing health conditions. People living near LNG production sites have reported health issues like respiratory problems, headaches, and nausea, which are linked to exposure to air and water pollution.
LNG is a major contributor to climate change due to its methane and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. Methane is a potent greenhouse gas that escapes into the atmosphere during the extraction, processing, and transport of LNG. While LNG burns cleaner than coal and liquid petroleum, it still emits significant amounts of carbon dioxide and methane, which trap heat and contribute to global warming and climate change.
