Data acquisition
SCALING UP LASER-BASED METHANE MONITORING
By Colin Wargo, systems engineer, LongPath Technologies M
ethane is one of the most potent greenhouse gases, with a warming potential many times that of carbon dioxide. Reducing methane emissions is therefore a priority for industry and regulators alike. Yet tracking leaks across oil and gas infrastructure remains a significant technical challenge, with existing methods such as point sensors and satellites struggling to provide the necessary combination of resolution, reliability and scalability. Researchers at LongPath Technologies are addressing this gap using dual frequency comb spectroscopy – a laser-based technique that can measure multiple gases with high resolution over long distances. In their approach, a centrally located laser tower sends light across a network of passive mirrors positioned near equipment under observation. These eye-safe laser paths create invisible “fencelines” that detect and quantify emissions over areas as large as 50km² per node. While the optical core of the system is based on Nobel Prize-winning physics, the transition from laboratory prototype to field-scale deployment has depended equally on advances in instrumentation. A key step was the adoption of a compact data- acquisition and signal-processing platform capable of meeting the real-time demands of precision spectroscopy in harsh outdoor conditions.
LongPath’s current systems use the Red Pitaya STEMlab 125-14 PRO Gen2, which integrates high-speed analogue front-ends with FPGA-based processing. Improvements in signal clarity, frequency stability and isolation between analogue and digital domains have proved essential for long-term stability in the field. Features such as onboard storage and power management have further simplified deployment by reducing the need for additional external devices.
With these tools, the network has scaled from early field trials to commercial operation across hundreds of monitoring sites. The system can detect leaks as small as 3SCFH (standard cubic feet per hour), providing operators and regulators with timely, actionable data. Bringing this technology out of the laboratory has required more than refined optics: it has depended on robust engineering choices at every level. Compact, flexible platforms such as the STEMlab 125-14 PRO Gen2 have allowed precision laser spectroscopy to leave the research bench and play a practical role in reducing methane emissions at scale.
LongPath Technologies
www.longpathtech.com Red Pitaya
52
redpitaya.com March 2026 Instrumentation Monthly
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