Do natural gas wells produce benzene?
Benzene levels in dry gas wells (gas wells that do not produce oil or condensate) are extremely minute, comprising less than .001% (one one-thousand of one percent) of the compounds that make up methane. Natural gas wells are closed systems with the natural gas going straight into pipelines. Benzene is one of the chemical compounds found in condensate storage tanks. All of the natural gas wells in Tarrant County are dry gas wells except for a few wells in the far northwestern part of the county. In the nine counties that the EPA has designated a non-attainment area for ozone levels, only 19% of the wells produce condensate and thus have condensate storage tanks on site. Condensate production in the Barnett Shale is primarily to the north (Denton and Wise counties and north) and west (Parker county and west). Oil and condensate storage tanks that emit high levels of chemical compounds including benzene are required to have vapor recovery units that reduce emissions. What is being done a
