Scan-based methane imaging and quantification system
Approved for funding in ERA’s Methane Challenge in 2017, the project supported the development of an alternative to optical gas imaging technology for methane measurement in Alberta’s oil and gas industry. By its conclusion in 2019, the project proved the scan-based methane imaging and quantification system is more viable as a permanently installed, rather than portable camera for inspecting and monitoring major emitting facilities.
ATCO, with technology developer MultiSensor, developed and trialed a scan-based methane imaging and quantification system for inspecting and monitoring major emitting facilities. This non-thermal infrared camera is meant to be a superior and economical alternative for the Alberta oil and gas industry to conduct optical gas imaging (OGI) inspections as required by regulations. The methane detection technology enables GHG reductions, as it provides efficient and cost-effective identification and quantification, which informs and aids mitigation efforts sooner than incumbent annual or semi-annual inspections.
Installed continuous monitoring solutions are ideal for industry
It was discovered during the project that commercializing a portable camera for inspection purposes is not viable. The prototype would require improvements to be sufficiently portable, and additional costs to commercialize beyond what were anticipated. The project proved the technology can detect gas at low leak rates. It was found to be better suited for an installed or relocatable camera, although using it for this purpose would require further upgrades to the hardware. The issues discovered during the project helped to progress development of the technology and the next generation of the system. Field testing showed the ability to see emitted gas from tank vents without climbing onto the tank or connecting equipment to it. The key outcome was to refocus the technology to become an installed continuous monitoring solution with the potential for application across thousands of upstream and midstream sites in Alberta.
What’s next?
Building on the learnings from this project, MultiSensor (now renamed Kuva) is working to commercialize the technology as a low-cost camera system for installed monitoring, automatic alarming and continuous leak rate quantification or gas leaks and tank vents. Improvements made after the end of the project period lowered the detection limit, extended the range, and reduced the power requirement of the camera. Ultimately, this led to a follow-on project supported by ERA with Kuva Canada, “Methane Imaging Solution for Continuous Leak Detection and Quantification for Tank Emissions and Facility Monitoring”. This follow-on project involved the operation of a continuous methane monitoring camera at oil and gas sites to automatically detect, visualize, and quantify emissions methane emissions and demonstrate the feasibility of using a relocatable camera solution to determine if emissions from uncontrolled tanks are within limits. Unexpected emissions from equipment malfunctions were detected and the ability to reliably pinpoint emissions to its source based on images enabled efficient analysis and repair.