Appalachian Methane Initiative (AMI)
Summary:
The Appalachian Methane Initiative (AMI) is a coalition formed by major U.S. natural gas operators, including Chesapeake Energy Corporation, EQT Corporation, and Equitrans Midstream Corporation. The initiative aims to enhance methane monitoring in the Appalachian Basin and facilitate methane emissions reductions in the region. This will support greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction efforts and strengthen Appalachian natural gas’s sustainable position in the global energy system. CSU will model midstream facilities using MAES (Mechanistic Air Emissions Simulator) and potentially upstream sites too.
Objectives:
1. Enhance Methane Monitoring: The AMI’s primary objective is to promote more effective methane emissions monitoring in the natural gas sector within the Appalachian Basin, through coordinated aerial surveys. Advanced methane monitoring and reporting frameworks will also be employed to improve the identification and remedy of potential fugitive methane emissions.
2. Develop a framework for top-down measurements and bottom-up estimates reconciliation.
3. Collaboration and Best Practices: The coalition seeks to foster collaboration among natural gas operators to share best practices in mitigating methane emissions. This collaboration will cover both production and midstream activities. By working together, the AMI members aim to optimize their efforts and achieve better results in reducing methane emissions.
Project Plan:
The project is divided into 4 phases, as described below. This pilot project will only implement phases 1 and 2.
1. Scoping Plan: development of a comprehensive plan, including detailed bottom-up information on methane emissions for the Marcellus basin.
2. Targeted Measurements: identify suitable technologies (aerial surveys, satellites, and continuous monitoring systems) to collect measurements on the targeted regions defined in Phase 1.
3. Basin-wide Campaign: technologies selected in Phase 2 will be deployed for a basin-wide measurement campaign. This phase will also develop emission reconciliation protocols.
4. Long-term Monitoring Recommendations: based on the analysis of Phase 3, asset- and region-specific recommendations will be made for long-term methane monitoring.
Schedule:
Results:
CSU is working with the operating partner companies to gather the necessary inputs to model ~140 midstream facilities, maintenance events, and run-time records of active major equipment on site to account for maintenance emissions in the top-down measurements.
Funding Provided by:
The Marcellus Methane Monitoring Coalition (MMM), Department of Energy