Evaluation of next generation emission measurement technologies under repeatable test protocols

Bell, Clay S.; Vaughn, Timothy; Zimmerle, Daniel

doi:10.1525/elementa.426

Cited by 44 publications

(51 citation statements)

References 12 publications

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“…Recently, several companies have developed novel approaches to methane leak detection that address the survey frequency limitation of OGI surveys. − Based on publicly available information, we can define three broad classes of new detection methods: Novel component or equipment-level survey methods: OGI and EPA Method 21 surveys inspect every component and identify the source of emissions as part of the inspection. Drone- and some truck- and aerial platforms provide similar specificity at potentially higher survey speed and lower cost.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

New Technologies Can Cost Effectively Reduce Oil and Gas Methane Emissions, but Policies Will Require Careful Design to Establish Mitigation Equivalence

Kemp

Ravikumar

2021

Environ. Sci. Technol.

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Reducing methane emissions from oil and gas systems is a central component of US and international climate policy. Leak detection and repair (LDAR) programs using optical gas imaging (OGI)-based surveys are routinely used to mitigate fugitive emissions or leaks. Recently, new technologies and platforms such as planes, drones, and satellites promise more cost-effective mitigation than existing approaches. To be approved for use in LDAR programs, new technologies must demonstrate emissions mitigation equivalent to existing approaches. In this work, we use the FEAST modeling tool to (a) identify cost vs mitigation trade-offs that arise from using new technologies and (b) provide a framework for effective design of alternative LDAR programs. We identify several critical insights. First, LDAR programs can trade sensitivity for speed without sacrificing mitigation outcomes. Second, low sensitivity or high detection threshold technologies have an effective upper bound on achievable mitigation that is independent of the survey frequency. Third, the cost effectiveness of tiered LDAR programs using site-level detection technologies depends on their ability to distinguish leaks from routine venting. Finally, "technology equivalence" based on mitigation outcomes differs across basins and should be evaluated independently. The FEAST model will enable operators and regulators to systematically evaluate new technologies in nextgeneration LDAR programs.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

New Technologies Can Cost Effectively Reduce Oil and Gas Methane Emissions, but Policies Will Require Careful Design to Establish Mitigation Equivalence

Kemp

Ravikumar

2021

Environ. Sci. Technol.

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“…The 2018 MMC tested 10 methane detection technologies through single-blind controlled releases, with 6 out of the 10 participating technologies "correctly detecting over 90% of test scenarios (true positive plus true negative rates)" (Ravikumar et al, 2019). A similar set of singleblind tests through the Methane Observation Networks with Innovative Technology (MONITOR) program compares 12 handheld, mobile, and continuous monitoring approaches to methane detection at modest emission rates (Bell et al, 2020). The MONITOR findings demonstrate higher accuracy for handheld and mobile methods over continuous monitoring techniques, which similarly highlight the importance of high-precision follow-up detection for methane remote sensing systems.…”

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confidence: 99%

Single-blind test of airplane-based hyperspectral methane detection via controlled releases

Sherwin

Chen

Ravikumar

et al. 2021

Elementa: Science of the Anthropocene

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Methane leakage from point sources in the oil and gas industry is a major contributor to global greenhouse gas emissions. The majority of such emissions come from a small fraction of “super-emitting” sources. We evaluate the emission detection and quantification capabilities of Kairos Aerospace’s airplane-based hyperspectral imaging methane emission detection system for methane fluxes of 18–1,025 kg per hour of methane (kgh(CH4)). In blinded controlled releases of methane conducted over 4 days in San Joaquin County, CA, Kairos detected 182 of 200 valid nonzero releases, including all 173 over 15 kgh(CH4) per meter per second (mps) of wind and none of the 12 nonzero releases below 8.3 kgh(CH4)/mps. Nine of the 26 releases in the partial detection range of 5–15 kgh(CH4)/mps were detected. There were no false positives: Kairos did not detect methane during any of the 21 negative controls. Plume quantification accuracy depends on the wind measurement technique, with a parity slope of 1.15 (σ = 0.037, R2 = 0.84, N = 185) using a cup-based wind meter and 1.45 (σ = 0.059, R2 = 0.80, N = 157) using an ultrasonic anemometer. Performance is comparable even with only modeled wind data. For emissions above 15 kgh/mps, quantification error scales as roughly 30%–40% of emission size, even when using wind reanalysis data instead of ground-based measurements. This reflects both uncertainty in wind measurements and in Kairos’ estimates. These findings suggest that at 2 mps winds under favorable environmental conditions in the United States, Kairos could detect and quantify over 50% of total emissions by identifying super-emitting sources.

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“…While the results shown in Figure 12 seem quite promising, there is still exists some improvements in precision that can be made. In the ARPA-E MONITOR program, 6 of the 11 participants tested their technologies at the METEC facility in [184] against six other industry-based participants. Due to confidentiality agreements at the time of testing, the data gathered from the 12 participants were aggregated to compare the methodologies based on measurement type (handheld, mobile and continuous monitoring).…”

Section: Analysis Of Methods and Assessmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

Advanced Leak Detection and Quantification of Methane Emissions Using sUAS

Hollenbeck

Zulevic

Chen

2021

Drones

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Detecting and quantifying methane emissions is gaining an increasingly vital role in mitigating emissions for the oil and gas industry through early detection and repair and will aide our understanding of how emissions in natural ecosystems are playing a role in the global carbon cycle and its impact on the climate. Traditional methods of measuring and quantifying emissions utilize chamber methods, bagging individual equipment, or require the release of a tracer gas. Advanced leak detection techniques have been developed over the past few years, utilizing technologies, such as optical gas imaging, mobile surveyors equipped with sensitive cavity ring down spectroscopy (CRDS), and manned aircraft and satellite approaches. More recently, sUAS-based approaches have been developed to provide, in some ways, cheaper alternatives that also offer sensing advantages to traditional methods, including not being constrained to roadways and being able to access class G airspace (0–400 ft) where manned aviation cannot travel. This work looks at reviewing methods of quantifying methane emissions that can be, or are, carried out using small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS) as well as traditional methods to provide a clear comparison for future practitioners. This includes the current limitations, capabilities, assumptions, and survey details. The suggested technique for LDAQ depends on the desired accuracy and is a function of the survey time and survey distance. Based on the complexity and precision, the most promising sUAS methods are the near-field Gaussian plume inversion (NGI) and the vertical flux plane (VFP), which have comparable accuracy to those found in conventional state-of-the-art methods.

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Evaluation of next generation emission measurement technologies under repeatable test protocols

Cited by 44 publications

References 12 publications

New Technologies Can Cost Effectively Reduce Oil and Gas Methane Emissions, but Policies Will Require Careful Design to Establish Mitigation Equivalence

New Technologies Can Cost Effectively Reduce Oil and Gas Methane Emissions, but Policies Will Require Careful Design to Establish Mitigation Equivalence

Single-blind test of airplane-based hyperspectral methane detection via controlled releases

Advanced Leak Detection and Quantification of Methane Emissions Using sUAS

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