Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Assessment of GHG Emissions from Shale Gas Development

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Environmental Impacts of Shale Gas Development in China

Part of the book series: SpringerBriefs in Geography ((BRIEFSGEOGRAPHY))

  • 84 Accesses

Abstract

Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions is one of the major environmental concerns of shale gas development. To better understand this specific environmental impact, this chapter develops a hybrid life cycle inventory (LCI) model to estimate the energy use and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of China’s shale gas development. Results suggest a total average energy use per well of 123 TJ (range: 74–165 TJ) and total average GHG emissions per well of 9505 tCO2e (range: 5346–13551 tCO2e). Most of the energy use and GHG emissions are indirect impacts embodied in fuels and materials. Energy use and GHG emissions from the drilling stage comprise the largest share in both totals due to large amounts of diesel used as fuel in the well drilling process and the materials used in the well casing process. Furthermore, the comparison shows that the energy use and GHG emissions of shale gas development in China will be much higher than the U.S.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
eBook
USD 16.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 16.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Aurangzeb Q, Al-Qadi IL, Ozer H, Yang R (2014) Hybrid life cycle assessment for asphalt mixtures with high rap content. Resour Conserv Recycl 83(1):77–86

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bartzas G, Komnitsas K (2015) Life cycle assessment of ferronickel production in Greece. Resour Conserv Recycl 105:113–122

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Burnham A, Han J, Clark CE, Wang M, Dunn JB et al (2012) Life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions of shale gas, natural gas, coal, and petroleum. Environ Sci Technol 46(2):619–627

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chang Y, Ries JR, Wang YW (2011) The quantification of the embodied impacts of construction projects on energy, environment, and society based on I-O LCA. Energy Policy 39:6321–6330

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chang Y, Huang R, Ries RJ, Masanet E (2014a) Shale-to-well energy use and air pollutant emissions of shale gas production in china. Appl Energy 125(14):147–157

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chang Y, Huang R, Masanet E (2014b) The energy, water, and air pollution implications of tapping China’s shale gas reserves. Resour Conserv Recycl 91:100–108

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chang Y, Huang R, Ries RJ, Masanet E (2015) Life-cycle comparison of greenhouse gas emissions and water consumption for coal and shale gas fired power generation in China. Energy 86:335–343

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Crishna N, Banfill PFG, Goodsir S (2011) Embodied energy and CO2, in UK dimension stone. Resour Conserv Recycl 55(12):1265–1273

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dong D, Gao S, Huang J, Guan Q, Wang S, Wang Y (2014) A discussion on the shale gas exploration and development prospect in the Sichuan Basin. Nat Gas Ind 34(12):1–15

    Google Scholar 

  • Energy Information Administration of U.S (EIA) (2011) Review of emerging resources: US shale gas and shale oil plays, July 2011. http://www.eia.gov/analysis/studies/usshalegas/pdf/usshaleplays.pdf

  • Energy Information Administration of U.S (EIA) (2013) Technically recoverable shale oil and shale gas resources: an assessment of 137 shale formations in 41 countries outside the United States. Available at: www.eia.gov/analysis/studies/worldshalegas/pdf/overview.pdf

  • EPA (2011) In oil and natural gas sector: new source performance standards and national emission standards for hazardous air pollutants reviews. EPA, Ed.; FR: Washington, DC, 2011; vol 76, pp 52738–52843

    Google Scholar 

  • Feng L, Xing Y, Wang J, Jiang X, Zhai S (2012) Experience and lessons from the U.S. shale gas development in terms of environmental and regulatory issues. Nat Gas Ind 32(9):102–105

    Google Scholar 

  • Frohlich C (2012) Two-year survey comparing earthquake activity and injection-well locations in the Barnett Shale, Texas. PNAS 109(35):13934–13938

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Guo M, Xu Y, Chen YD (2015) Catching environmental noncompliance in shale gas development in China and the United States. Resour Conserv Recycl, in press

    Google Scholar 

  • Guo M, Lu X, Nielsen CP, Mcelroy MB, Shi W, Chen Y et al (2016) Prospects for shale gas production in china: implications for water demand. Renew Sustain Energy Rev 66:742–750

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hossain MU, Chi SP, Lo IMC, Cheng JCP (2016) Comparative environmental evaluation of aggregate production from recycled waste materials and virgin sources by LCA. Resour Conserv Recycl 109:67–77

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Howarth RW, Santoro R, Ingraffea A (2011) Methane and the greenhouse-gas footprint of natural gas from shale formations. Clim Change 106(4):679–690

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hu D, Xu S (2013) Opportunity, challenges and policy choices for China on the development of shale gas. Energy Policy 60:21–26

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Huang JL, Zou CN, Li JZ, Dong DZ, Wang SL et al (2012) Shale gas accumulation conditions and favorable zones of Silurian Longmaxi Formation in south Sichuan Basin, China. J China Coal Soc 37(5):782–787

    Google Scholar 

  • Hultman N, Rebois D, Scholten M, Ramig C (2011) The greenhouse impact of unconventional gas for electricity generation. Environ Res Lett 6(4):44008–44016

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • IPCC (2006) 2006 IPCC guidelines for national greenhouse gas inventories. http://www.ipcc-nggip.iges.or.jp/public/2006gl/chinese/index.html

  • IPCC (2013) Climate change 2013: the physical science basis. Contribution of working group I to the fifth assessment report of the intergovernmental panel on climate change, Ch. 8. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, pp 711–714

    Google Scholar 

  • Jiang M, Griffin WM, Hendrickson C, Jaramillo P, VanBriesen J et al (2011) Life cycle greenhouse gas emissions of Marcellus shale gas. Environ Res Lett 6(3):034014

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jiang M, Hendrickson CT, Vanbriesen JM (2014) Life cycle water consumption and wastewater generation impacts of a Marcellus shale gas well. Environ Sci Technol 1:339–353

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Krupnick A, Wang Z, Wang Y (2014) Environmental risks of shale gas development in China. Energy Policy 75:117–125

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Laurenzi IJ, Jersey GR (2013) Life cycle greenhouse gas emissions and freshwater consumption of Marcellus shale gas. Environ Sci Technol 47(9):4896–4903

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liu J, Xu HT, Yu G, Li L (2014) Development indices and potential of shale gas, Sichuan basin. Nat Gas Explor and Develop 2014(2):45–47

    Google Scholar 

  • National Bureau of Statistics of China (NBSC) (2014) China statistical yearbook 2014. China Statistics Press, Beijing

    Google Scholar 

  • National Bureau of Statistics of China (NBSC) (2015) Input-output tables of China. China Statistics Press, Beijing

    Google Scholar 

  • National Development and Reform Commission of China (NDRC) (2012) Shale gas development plan (2011–2015). Available at: www.sdpc.gov.cn/zcfb/zcfbtz/201203/t20120316_467518.html

  • Pacsi AP, Alhajeri NS, Zavala-Araiza D, Webster MD, Allen DT (2013) Regional air quality impacts of increased natural gas production and use in Texas. Environ Sci Technol 47(7):3521–3527

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • PetroChina Southwest Oil and Gas Filed Company (PetroChina-SOC) (2014a) Drilling project environmental impact assessment report for W202H2 Pad. TY(EIA)-2014–021, May 2014

    Google Scholar 

  • PetroChina Southwest Oil and Gas Filed Company (PetroChina-SOC) (2014b) Drilling project environmental impact assessment report for W204H4 Pad. TY(EIA)-2014-014, June 2014

    Google Scholar 

  • PetroChina Southwest Oil and Gas Filed Company (PetroChina-SOC) (2014c) Drilling project environmental impact assessment report for W202H1 Pad, W204H1 Pad, and WH3-1 Well, March 2014

    Google Scholar 

  • Singh P, Kansal A (2018) Energy and GHG accounting for wastewater infrastructure. Resour Conserv Recycl 128:499–507

    Google Scholar 

  • Vidic RD, Brantley SL, Vandenbossche JM, Yoxtheimer D, Abad JD (2013) Impact of shale gas development on regional water quality. Science 340(6134):1235009

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wan HC, Sun W, Liu SG, Ran B, Ye YH et al (2012) General situation and prospect evaluation of the shale gas in Wufeng-Longmaxi Formation of Sichuan Basin and surrounding areas. J Chengdu Univ Technol (Science and Technology Edition) 39(2):176–181

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang C, Wang F, Du H, Zhang X (2014) Is China really ready for shale gas revolution—Re-evaluating shale gas challenges. Environ Sci Policy 39:49–55

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang J, Mohr S, Feng L, Liu H, Tverberg GE (2016) Analysis of resource potential for China’s unconventional gas and forecast for its long-term production growth. Energy Policy 88:389–401

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang J, Liu M, Mclellan B, Tang X, Feng LY (2017) Environmental impacts of shale gas development in China: a hybrid life cycle analysis. Resour Conserv Recycl 120:38–45

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang YM, Dong DZ, Li JZ, Wang SJ, Li XJ et al (2012) Reservoir characteristics of shale gas in Longmaxi Formation of the Lower Silurian, southern Sichuan. Acta PetroleiSinica 33(4):551–561

    Google Scholar 

  • Weber CL, Clavin C (2012) Life cycle carbon footprint of shale gas: review of evidence and implications. Environ Sci Technol 46:5688–6595

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Xia L, Luo D, Yuan J (2015) Exploring the future of shale gas in China from an economic perspective based on pilot areas in the Sichuan basin–a scenario analysis. J Nat Gas Sci Eng 22:670–678

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yu MJ, Weinthal E, Patiño-Echeverri D, Deshusses MA, Zou CN et al (2016) Water availability for shale gas development in Sichuan Basin, China. Environ Sci Technol 6:2837–2845

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yuan J, Luo D, Xia L, Feng L (2015) Policy recommendations to promote shale gas development in China based on a technical and economic evaluation. Energy Policy 85:194–206

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhao JZ, Yang H, Li YM, Liao T (2014) China accelerates shale gas development. Oil Gas J 112(10):70–78

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhu L, Yong G, Lindner S, Zhao H, Fujita T, Guan D (2012) Embodied energy use in China’s industrial sectors. Energy Policy 49:751–758

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geography, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, China

    Meiyu Guo

  2. School of Economics and Management, China University of Petroleum, Beijing, China

    Jianliang Wang

Authors
  1. Meiyu Guo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Jianliang Wang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Meiyu Guo .

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2021 The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Guo, M., Wang, J. (2021). Assessment of GHG Emissions from Shale Gas Development. In: Environmental Impacts of Shale Gas Development in China. SpringerBriefs in Geography. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-0490-4_4

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-0490-4_4

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Singapore

  • Print ISBN: 978-981-16-0489-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-981-16-0490-4

  • eBook Packages: Social SciencesSocial Sciences (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation