Multi-Stage Aerial Methane Detection for Remote Well Sites
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for detecting fugitive methane emissions in the oil and gas industry, particularly in remote and unmanned locations, are inefficient due to the sparse distribution of well sites and the limitations of current detection technologies, leading to high costs and suboptimal inspection frequencies.
Innovation Solution
A multi-stage approach using airborne sensors mounted on flight vehicles, such as drones or airplanes, to rapidly scan for fugitive emissions, followed by precise component-level inspections where necessary, optimized by computer-implemented clustering and flight path planning to minimize costs and time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If work crews drive to remote well sites for inspections, then component-level inspection precision can be achieved, but inspection time and costs increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The inspection process is divided into two segments: (1) aerial screening using optical gas imaging to rapidly identify potential emission sources, and (2) targeted component-level inspection using handheld sensors only at locations where emissions were detected. This segmentation eliminates the need for crews to visit every well site, reducing inspection time while maintaining detection precision for actual emissions.
Solution Approach 2:
Optical gas imaging cameras serve as an intermediary tool between aerial survey and ground-based component inspection. The cameras detect methane emissions remotely, allowing inspectors to prioritize and target specific well sites for detailed component-level inspection, thereby reducing overall inspection time while maintaining high detection precision.
2Productivity
If inspection frequency is increased to reduce emission duration, then methane emission reduction improves, but costs and resource requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
Aerial screenings using optical gas imaging are performed as a preliminary action to identify well sites with active emissions before deploying ground crews. This preliminary screening allows inspection resources to be concentrated only on sites that actually require attention, improving emission reduction effectiveness while reducing overall resource consumption compared to uniform frequent inspections of all sites.
3Measurement precision
If detector sensitivity is improved to capture more leaks, then emission detection capability increases, but costs and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges two detection approaches: (1) optical gas imaging cameras mounted on aerial platforms that provide broad-area screening capability, and (2) handheld component-level sensors used for detailed inspection at targeted locations. This combination achieves high overall detection sensitivity without requiring every sensor to be highly sophisticated, as each tool is optimized for its specific function.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This method reduces inspection time per facility from hours to minutes, lowers overall inspection costs, and enhances detection precision by limiting component-level inspections to only confirmed emission sites, thereby improving the efficiency and effectiveness of methane emission reduction efforts.
Implementation Method 1
laser-based LiDAR sensors have been deployed on small aircraft. These airborne LiDAR sensors are mounted on the aircraft and employ a laser that emits a beam of electromagnetic energy that is tuned to a wavelength of strong methane absorption from the low-flying aircraft, and then detected after reflecting off the ground.
Implementation Method 2
airborne LiDAR sensors can have relatively high sensitivity, with limits of detection (determined by controlled released experiments), for example, approaching the 1 kg methane/hour emission rate threshold under favorable conditions
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and apparatus for fugitive emission detection. In some embodiments, the method can include planning and performing aerial inspections of a plurality of structures within one or more facilities by determining a flight path for a scanning of fugitive emissions from a plurality of structures within one or more facilities. The flight path can cover a set of structure clusters that can be serviced by a base. The method can also include using a computer-implemented clustering method to identify the set of structure clusters that can be serviced by the respective base. The clustering method can be a hierarchical multilevel clustering method. The method can also include scanning the plurality of structures for fugitive emissions using an airborne sensor. The airborne sensor can be mounted to a flight vehicle launched from the base. The method can also include classifying the plurality of structures based on results of the scanning.