API PUBL 4589 : 1993

Fugitive Hydrocarbon Emissions From Oil And Gas Production Operations

Standard Details

Scope

This report presents data collected at four light crude production sites, four heavy crude production sites, four gas production sites, four gas processing plants, and four Gulf of Mexico platforms. Correlation equations were developed from data collected at all five types of facilities. Fugitive hydrocarbon emission factors and air toxics weight fractions were developed from data at four types of sites. A separate report on fugitive hydrocarbon emission factors and air toxics weight fractions for gas plants will be published after more field data are collected in a joint research effort with the EPA.

The 1980 emission factors for connections, valves, and open-ended lines are directly superseded by the new emission factors developed in this study. The limited number of uncontrolled pressure relief valves, pump seals, compressor seals, and other components found during the study did not provide enough data to allow development of new factors for these components as separate types. Instead these and other miscellaneous components were grouped into one category called "Others". The study produced two types of emission factors: 1) emission factors for use with component counts and, 2) emission factors for use with ISVs. Separate correlation equations were developed for connections, valves, open-ended lines, and other components. Emissions were speciated according to hydrocarbon length (number of carbon atoms) and type (aromatic and non aromatic hydrocarbons).