Thomas Lauvaux: Global Assessment of Oil and Gas Methane Ultra-Emitters

Abstract

Methane emissions from oil and gas (O&G) production and transmission represent a significant contribution to climate change. These emissions comprise sporadic releases of large amounts of methane during maintenance operations or equipment failures not accounted for in current inventory estimates. We collected and analyzed hundreds of very large releases from atmospheric methane images sampled by the TROPOspheric Monitoring Instrument (TROPOMI) over 2019 and 2020. Ultra-emitters are primarily detected over the largest O&G basins of the world. With a total contribution equivalent to 8-12% (~8 MtCH4.yr-1) of the global O&G production methane emissions, mitigation of ultra-emitters is largely achievable at low costs and would lead to robust net benefits in billions of US dollars for the six major producing countries when considering societal costs of methane. 

Bio

My main research interest is to understand the roles of the biosphere and of various human activities on the carbon cycle using data assimilation techniques. By combining atmospheric greenhouse gas measurements and numerical weather models, I collect information on the exchanges of carbon from land and coastal surfaces to the atmosphere. I am particularly interested in satellite measurements and dense network of ground-based sensors to characterize carbon sources from large metropolitan areas or sinks from natural and agrilcutural landscapes.

• 2008-2014: PennState University - Research Scientist
• 2014-2015: CalTech JPL - Research Scientist
• 2015-2018: PennState University - Assoc. Research Professor
• 2018-2021: LSCE, France - Research Scientist (Make Our Planet Great Again)