Methane
emissions abatement in the past several years has been focused on qualifying
emissions via infrared satellite imaging measurements, LiDar and drone surveys,
and abatement though changing out pneumatic devices. The upstream sector has
led the way. Now, the midstream sector is beginning to catch up. With several
new sensing technologies available more specific monitoring programs can be
developed and tailored for different types and sizes of sites. Early emissions
surveys were focused on finding large emission sources and fixing them. Continuous
leaks are prioritized over intermittent leaks simply because they are easier to
pinpoint, and they leak higher quantities of methane. Once large and continuous
leaks are addressed for each site then intermittent leaks can be addressed.
The focus is
changing towards continuous monitoring, especially at sites where intermittent emissions
occur or are suspected. Continuous monitoring can pick up those intermittent
leaks. Apparently, most leaks are actually intermittent leaks so this focus
should help to reduce overall emissions further. Continuous monitoring can be
done with point sensors and infrared cameras. These are typically employed to
find leaks by identifying leak plumes. They don’t always find the source of the
leak. These devices measure methane concentration in the air. Continuous
monitoring allows a time profile of emissions to be developed. Readings can be
affected by weather and wind, by turbulent diffusion. By integrating data from
cameras and point sensors leaks can be pinpointed to source and quantified. Taking
point source readings by visiting a site by week, or month, or quarter is
typically not enough to pick up many intermittent leaks.
One goal is to
develop a life cycle of an emission through continuous monitoring. As noted,
the parameters of that emission may change through time in response to a change
in turbulent diffusion or by a change in the leak rate. Turbulent diffusion is
difficult to predict as wind changes locally considerably. Which equipment
should be deployed depends on nature of site, size of site, how many potential
sources of leaks there are, and leak rates. Large facilities like power plants
or refineries will need a different approach than smaller sites like well pads.
Something like a drone-in-a-box may be applicable for sites or facilities of
middle size. Drone monitoring has the advantage that it can move around and
cover more area, but it is also intermittent, not continuous for each area.
Drones can be useful for finding leaks along spread-out sources like pipelines.
One issue that
arises at sites especially where there are multiple potential sources of leaks
is that of false positives. The hard problem is whether a newly discovered leak
is the same as an identified leak or a different leak. Employing multiple
sensors and types of sensors is a good approach. The workflow for monitoring is
sensing > detection > quantifying > attribution. Continuous monitoring
through this workflow is best at mitigating false positives. The false positive
issue is more an unintended result of having multiple sensors but is quite
mitigatable with the right approach. Point source monitors are cheap and can be
employed in different places. However, they also need good interpreters to
resolve issues like false positives.
The DOE just
announced $47 million in funding for methane emissions reduction. The effort
will involve 22 research projects “to advance the development of new and
innovative measurement, monitoring, and mitigation technologies to help detect,
quantify, and reduce methane emissions across oil and natural gas producing
regions of the United States.”
The following is from the DOE announcement:
The selected projects will advance cutting-edge
technologies under five areas:
·
Mitigating Methane Emissions from
Upstream/Midstream Sources – Six projects will address
mitigating methane emissions from engines and machinery used in the extraction
and production of natural gas and oil to advance the development of cleaner
fuels for the industry.
·
Surface-based Methane Monitoring and
Measurement Networks – Two projects will gather and compile
surface-based methane emissions data and appropriate wind speed and direction
measurements to effectively characterize methane sources and emission rates
across a broad area that includes multiple operators of oil and gas production
facilities.
·
Basin-Specific Needs to Mitigate Methane
Emissions – Across the United States, oil- and gas-producing
basins have characteristics that require unique approaches to resource
production, transportation, and storage. Five projects will demonstrate methods
to measure and quantify methane emissions along the natural gas supply chain focusing
on basin-specific requirements.
·
Integrated Methane Monitoring Platform
Design – Seven projects will aim to develop integrated methane
monitoring platforms to continually collect and analyze methane emissions data
across the natural gas supply chain to characterize methane emissions from
chronic and super-emitters and inform near real-time mitigation decisions.
·
Investigating Emissions from Storage Tanks –
Two projects will work to identify the primary sources of methane emissions
from storage tanks and their associated equipment across the oil and natural
gas value chain and evaluate monitoring technologies.
The research will be conducted by several universities,
institutes, laboratories, and companies. On the academic side will be Kansas
State University, University of North Dakota, University of Oklahoma, University
of Texas at Austin, Colorado State University, and West Virginia University.
Institutes include the Gas Technology Institute (GTI Energy) and Southwest
Research Institute. Laboratories include Prabhu Energy Labs and Pacific
Northwest National Laboratory. Companies include UChicago Argonne, LLC., Kairos
Aerospace, Inc., Sonoma Technology Inc., ABB Inc., and Piedmont Natural Gas
Company-Duke Energy.
I think these
new research projects along with the oil and gas industry retuning its focus
toward continuous monitoring will lead to better and more detailed
quantification of methane emissions across the entire value chain of the
industry, tighten the leaks further, and make natural gas and oil able to
decrease emissions significantly further by establishing repeatable protocols
and monitoring program designs and networks for different emissions sources and
types of facilities.
In a quick Hart Energy Tech Trends video Exxon described their methane emissions efforts in their Permian Basin operations. They are first utilizing a metal oxide detector to survey entire sites and fence lines of sites. They deploy OGI type cameras to detect plumes and decide where and how to respond. They are also using a variety of different equipment sensors to detect emissions from different kinds of equipment. They plan to deploy satellite technology in a few years to pair with ground tech.
Project Canary sent out a little summary of the recent
CERAWeek, highlighting stuff about methane emissions. They noted that methane emissions
reduction was being further prioritized and data gathering was key to tangibly demonstrating
reductions. They noted recent data on the New Mexico part of the Permian where methane
emissions and flaring are much higher than normal and the strong need there for
abatement. They highlighted the importance of American LNG as the cheapest
supply and best means of aiding energy security and decarbonization. They also
noted that more data and better reporting is resulting in more LNG importers
purchasing responsibly sourced gas (RSG) as the EU is working on rules
requiring cleaner sources, mentioning the European companies: Engie, Uniper,
and RWE.
Another new development in methane emissions monitoring is
companies offering ‘satellite-as-a-service.’ The Appalachian Methane Initiative
(AMI), composed of companies EQT, Chesapeake Energy, and Equitrans Midstream is
deciding whether to outsource satellite methane monitoring or to do it
internally. Some satellites detect methane emissions over large areas while
others can detect point sources. The Environmental Defense Fund is launching a
new satellite aimed at detecting point-source emissions over large areas in
order to bridge the data gaps. The AMI wants to develop a basin-wide satellite
and aerial monitoring system that can detect super-emitters instantaneously that
is focused on all sectors in the industry and the coal industry as well. A
chief analyst for satellite provider Kayrros noted that image processing is
complex so outsourcing would be the best choice for now as well as keeping it in
the domain of an independent third party where transparency is maximized.
ExxonMobil plans to launch 24 satellites over the next three years for methane emissions
detection and monitoring. They acknowledge that uncertainty levels are too high
and aim to lower them. They also noted that there is variation in the
capabilities of different providers of methane monitoring. Midstream company
Williams is launching its first satellites this year to monitor its facilities.
References:
Quantifying
Total Methane Emissions in Operations: Measuring the Unseen. Andrew Speck, SLB
and Carsten Russenes, SLB. Moderator: Zachary Evans. SPE tech Talk March 14,
2023 Quantifying Total Methane Emissions
in Operations: Measuring the Unseen - SPE Energy Stream
DOE
Invests $47 Million to Reduce Methane Emissions From Oil and Gas Sector.
U.S> Dept. of Energy. March 13, 2023. DOE Invests $47 Million to Reduce
Methane Emissions From Oil and Gas Sector | Department of Energy
Project
Selections for FOA 2616: Innovative Methane Measurement, Monitoring and
Mitigation Technologies. DOE. Office of Fossil and Carbon Management. Project Selections for FOA 2616:
Innovative Methane Measurement, Monitoring and Mitigation Technologies |
Department of Energy
E&P Tech Trends: Check Out New Exxon Mobil Tech at CERAWeek by S&P Global. Jennifer Pallanich. Hart Energy. March 14, 2023. E&P Tech Trends: Check Out New Exxon Mobil Tech at CERAWeek by S&P Global [WATCH] | Hart Energy
What
you missed at CERAWeek: Energy Insights, Methane Emissions & transition
Strategies. Project Canary. March 16, 2023.
Gas Industry
Eyes Next Giant Leap for Methane Monitoring. Caroline Evans. March 17, 2023. Wenergy Intelligence.
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