Air quality measurements in the vicinity of natural gas production in the district of Rotenburg
The Landesamt für Bergbau, Energie und Geologie (LBEG) published current investigation results of 2016
In the district of Rotenburg, natural gas is recovered at many places. Within the scope of revision work, it is sometimes necessary that the gas is discharged via a flare and burnt. In order to determine the influence of such flares on the ambient air Müller-BBM was got an order by LBEG to develop an adequate measuring concept and to carry out the respective measurements.
The aim of the investigation was to find out whether the natural gas recovery and particularly the operating conditions of the flares leads to relevant effects in the surroundings of the locations due to aromatic hydrocarbons BTEX (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylenes) and mercury. For this purpose, 3 measuring campaigns with intensive measurements were carried out during activities with flares. Furthermore continuous measurements of these components were executed at an additional measuring point.
In order to determine whether there is an influence on ambient air quality during the flare activities, at the same time 9 measuring points were arranged fan-like in different distances from the flare in the direction of the propagation (lee) of the flares. At these measuring points, samples were taken actively over the whole period of the flare activity. Another measuring point was positioned in the opposite direction (windward) of the flare in order to determine at the same time the background values. The ideal location of the measuring points with respect to the probable propagation of emissions had been determined beforehand by indicative propagation calculations and taking into account the meteorological conditions. The continuous measurements were carried out at a representative location in the district of Rotenburg (Wümme) in the potential impact area of a gas production place over a period of 9 months.
The measurements during the intensive measuring campaign with flare activities at three different gas recovery locations as well as the measurements at the permanent monitoring point did not show a relevant influence of the respective activity on the ambient air quality of the components BTEX and Hg in the surroundings of the plants. The determined concentration of the components were very low and in the typical range of background values without any influence of relevant industrial emissions.
The detailed results can be found on the internet pages of the LBEG Niedersachsen
