Comparative Performance of Gaussian Plume and Backward Lagrangian Stochastic Models for Near-Field Methane Emission Estimation Using a Single Controlled Release Experiment

Methane (CH₄) is a major component of natural gas and a potent greenhouse gas. Increasing atmospheric methane concentrations are attributed to emissive anthropogenic activities by an average of 13 ppb per yr since 2020 and are linked to a changing global climate. Mitigating CH₄ emissions from oil and gas production sites has recently become a target to reduce overall greenhouse gas emissions, however, monitoring the efficacy of mitigation strategies depends on accurate quantification of CH₄ emissions at the facility-level. Near-field quantification of methane (CH₄) emissions from oil and gas (O&G) facilities remains challenging due to the effects of atmospheric variability and sensor configuration on atmospheric dispersion models. This study evaluates the performance of two atmospheric dispersion models, the Gaussian Plume (GP) and backward Lagrangian Stochastic (bLS), by comparing calculated CH₄ emissions to controlled single-point emissions of between 0.4 and 5.2 kg CH₄ h^-1. Emissions were calculated by both models using 121 individual sets of measurements comprising five-minute averaged downwind methane mixing ratios and matching meteorological data. Comparison shows the bLS approach showed better predictive performance with twice as many emission estimates were within a factor of two (FAC2) of the known emission rates compared to those calculated using the GP approach. The emissions calculated by the bLS model also had a lower multiplicative error and reduced bias relative to GP. Other error-based metrics further confirmed the bLS model performed better, as it yielded lower RMSE and MAE than GP. Statistical analysis of the emission data shows the lateral and vertical alignment of source and sensor plays a critical role in emission estimations as measurements made closer to the plume centerline and at a distance between 40 to 80 m downwind yielded the best FAC2 agreement. High wind meander degraded ability of both approaches to generate representative emissions particularly with the GP approach as it violates the modelling approach’s assumption of steady-state emissions. Data suggest emissions calculated by the bLS model are comprehensively in better agreement but the computational demands of the modeling approach and integration into fenceline systems limit real-time applicability. While it is likely that the results presented here are suitable for informing leak detection technology in relatively flat unvegetated environments, it is currently unknown if these findings will be applicable in more vertiginous or heavily vegetated oil and gas producing regions of the Marcellus or Uinta Basins.