APPLICATION OF METHANOTROPHIC BIOFILTERS (MBFS) IN TREATING METHANE (CH4) EMISSIONS FROM OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY

Microbial oxidation of methane (CH4) may serve as an inexpensive technique for reducing fugitive methane emissions from the oil and gas industry. Laboratory experiments have shown the potential to apply methanotrophic biofilters to treat low-volume CH4 releases. Field experiments are being undertaken to gain the required quantitative and qualitative understanding of these processes. A pilot-scale biofilter was constructed at a gas metering station owned by TransCanada. The surface flux, temperature, moisture content, and gas concentrations are monitored. In this paper, some of the preliminary results obtained from the operation of a field biofilter are presented. The atmospheric temperature effect on oxidation is well described by the observed results. Furthermore, properly developed, calibrated and field validated mathematical models would provide predictive capabilities at a fraction of the cost of expensive laboratory or field programs. Suitable mathematical models coul