PRODUCTION • PROCESSING • HANDLING
at trapping heat due to a molecular structure that makes it very eff ective at capturing infrared radiation. As a result, when methane is fi rst released, it can trap between 80-100 times more heat than the equivalent amount of CO2
.
This means that tackling methane emissions is one of the most eff ective ways to address global warming – a statement that is backed up by the oil and gas industry. Ipieca, the International Association of Oil and Gas Producers, and the Oil and Gas Climate Initiative, have issued joint guidance stating that the elimination of methane emissions in the upstream oil and gas industry presents one of the best opportunities for combating climate change. However, in the downstream segment, achieving this may not be so simple. Flaring and venting are common activities that regularly see large quantities of methane released into the atmosphere. Even if these practices cease to be used, the problem of leaking infrastructure would remain, and without technology to provide a clear picture of where leaks are occurring, locating them requires a major investment of both time and money in the form of manual surveys. But there is a solution to this.
High levels of emissions need not be inevitable. Through a robust combination of operational standards, policy action, and employing proven technologies, oil and gas producers can make a real diff erence to their environmental impact.
Methane is one of the most signifi cant contributors to global warming
Left: Umicore’s coatings are ideal in extreme environments The technologies to prevent emissions are already well established.
Through existing solutions, the International Energy Agency believes methane emissions from oil and gas could be cut by 40% at no net cost to producers. This is due to the high resale value of the captured material; potential profi ts that are currently being allowed to disappear into thin air. Chief among these technologies is laser absorption spectroscopy.
WHAT IS LASER ABSORPTION SPECTROSCOPY? Due to methane’s high infrared- trapping properties, the gas is easy to detect with infrared spectroscopy sensors – often at a sensitivity of parts per billion. What’s more, because these gases are characterised by many diff erent spectral lines in the infrared, multiple features in the spectra can be used to identify chemical species with great accuracy. Laser absorption spectroscopy works
Operators can check for leaks on site with infrared thermal imaging sensors
due to the way light is absorbed when it is passed through a medium. Beams of infrared light are sent through a sampling chamber containing a fi lter that only lets certain wavelengths that are refl ected or emitted by the gas in question through. Using diff erent fi lters changes the wavelengths of light that can reach the detector and, as a result, the equipment can be used to detect a variety of diff erent gases and distinct particles.
Certain gas analyser instruments
incorporate laser diodes mounted on a thermo-electric cooler. This enables the laser’s wavelength to be tuned to match the absorption wavelength of a particular molecule, resulting in enhanced sensitivity and discrimination. These instruments benefi t from a lower risk of false alarms, which can plague other common gas detection technologies.
ACTION THROUGH DETECTION Advanced gas detection systems deployed at local and national levels will be instrumental in improving leak detection in the oil and gas sector. Although satellite imaging paints a partial picture of where methane leaks are occurring, localised methane sensors distributed across pipelines, storage facilities, and transport hubs, would provide a more accurate view of whether emissions are occurring, empowering the industry to begin addressing the problem. The need for a clear, measurable
strategy on methane is increasingly clear. Without a foundation of accurate data, action on this will be impossible. Laser absorption spectroscopy makes this data accessible and could provide the answer to turning the corner on climate change.
Mark Naples is general manager at Umicore.
www.umicore.co
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