The study addresses only oil and gas production operations which include well drilling@ oil and gas producing and gas plant operations. A description of these operations is provided for the reader desiring additional information@ Appendix A. A schematic diagram@ Figure 1-1@ is provided to demonstrate the general configuration of the field producing equipment. Individual drawings are provided for each location monitored during the study@ Appendix B. In this study emission monitoring involved the quantitative measurement of fugitive emissions from individual items such as valve packing@ threaded or flanged connections@ and seal packing which may be components of a particular of oil field equipment under consideration. For example@ a production separator@ Figure 1-1@ is a closed pressure vessel through which gas and liquid enter and/or leave via valves and pipes. Fugitive emissions from the individual sources were field measured as a function of the fluid flowing within the system. Some components such as a valve have several fugitive emission points that include 1) stem packing 2) bottom flange@ if present and 3) end connections. Summing these fugitive emissions provides the total emissions from the valve. This procedure was considered necessary because of the variety of oil field equipment encountered in the field. This methodology has been used in the study both for field measurements and the resulting emission factors.
API PUBL 4322 VOL 1-1980 history
1980API PUBL 4322 VOL 1-1980 Volume 1-Fugitive Hydrocarbon Emissions from Petroleum Production Operations