A review of the status of air quality monitoring in the Permian Basin, USA, and its implications for effective long-term monitoring of industrial operations

Abstract

The Permian Basin is the largest petroleum producing region in the United States. Few studies have investigated impact the Petroleum Industry had on the air quality of the Permian Basin. Industry operations in the Basin has two primary impacts on air quality, (a) it significantly contributes carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4) to the atmosphere during extraction, transport and use of fossil fuels, (b) industry operations influence public health especially when populations are in proximity to all categories of oil and gas facilities. The advent of Covid-19 in late 2019 and a severe drought that began prior to 2019 in West Texas have created unusual circumstances regarding air quality and public health in the Permian Basin. This study has monitored airborne pollen, spores, fungal spores, and other organically derived particles, and inorganic particulate matter (1, 2.5, 10-micron particulate matter (PM) and total suspended particles (TSP)), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and sulfur dioxide (SO2). The pandemic caused a historic reduction in oil and gas production slowing operations in the Permian Basin to near zero during the study period, reducing environmental effects on air quality and concomitantly an increase in flaring of natural gas. Although there were increases in the release of VOCs fixed base monitors detected no notable increase. However, an increase in the concentration of airborne pollutants (VOCs and SO2) shows a close correlation with proximity to oil and gas facilities and the intensity of industry operations. This phenomenon is attributed to the highly local nature of flaring and CH4 plume emissions from leaking oil and gas facilities. Air quality improved in the Permian Basin due to reduction in production activity because of the Covid-19 pandemic, and the reduction of particulate matter due to the ongoing drought during the study period.