MONITORING & METERING


mid-century – greater than the emissions impact of immediately taking all cars and trucks in the world off the road. Executives from the same organisation rank methane emissions from the energy sector as ‘one of the best’ and ‘most affordable’ opportunities to limit global warming in the near term. In other words, the effect of capital, resources and effort spent addressing methane is vastly amplified relative to any longer-term conversations. Reducing methane emissions requires


collaboration like never before. Pipelines’ location, age, and scale mean that leaks can only be reduced instead of eliminated - but keeping gas inside the pipelines isn't the only challenge. Oil, gas and coal mining operations release large amounts of methane either by accident or design. Traditional checking methods for gas leaks are


slow and lack the accuracy and sensitivity to detect leaks easily, reliably, and quickly. The often labour- intensive and demanding work of inspection and subsequent entering of data into reporting systems all add to the uphill battle. However, these problems pale in significance when compared with the opportunity to deal with the potent greenhouse gas once and for all.


LASER-LIKE FOCUS Thanks to recent technological advances, the oil and gas industry, scientists and authorities can tap into a growing set of tools to help them detect and quantify emissions. From specialised handheld cameras that allow technicians to pinpoint leaks to space-borne instruments that can quantify regional emissions, tools like these are changing the game for understanding emissions. As the quality of sensing, analytics, and mobile technology improves, a wave of better-performing and affordable methane detection solutions is set to emerge. Optical laser technology is at the heart of many of these gas detection systems. This technology, known as laser absorption spectroscopy, relies on the infrared (IR) trapping properties of methane


and CO2, and continues to prove a powerful tool for detecting trace gases and determining their atmospheric concentrations. Laser absorption spectroscopy provides


information based on how light is absorbed as it passes through a medium. Emitters are used to generate beams of IR light, which pass through a filter that blocks certain wavelengths from reaching the detector. By measuring the intensity or attenuation of the beams of light, these detectors can determine the precise quantity of gases present. Different filters allow for the detection of different trace gases and distinct particles. Newer gas analyser instruments use a laser


diode mounted on a thermo-electric cooler that can tune the laser’s wavelength to the specific absorption wavelength of a particular molecule. The diode sources exploit their high-frequency resolution, which enhances the instrument’s sensitivity, allowing it to register more significant levels of interaction between gas molecules and light in the order of parts per billion. It also heightens the tool’s ability to discriminate between specific gas compounds. This lowers the risk of false positives, a familiar issue for alternative gas detection technologies. The sensors used in laser absorption spectroscopy


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deliver fast response times and accurate results and can operate in a vacuum if necessary. Modern detectors can continuously monitor for combustible gases and vapours within the lower explosive limit and trigger alarm notifications if required. They also allow deployment within oxygen-deficient or oxygen-enriched areas, require little calibration, and are immune to sensor poison, contamination, or corrosion.


it to be the gold standard for global policies for operators to reduce methane emissions and provide the incentive to invest in abatement. There’s also financial stimulation to the tune of


$1.5 billion that will, in time, unlock the necessary change, particularly around better tools and technologies. Creating a culture of good practice and maximising the margin for these facilities produces an inherent incentive for operators to


“Methane emissions from the energy sector are one of the best and most affordable opportunities to limit global warming in the near term”


The filter – specifically how it is coated – is


central to absorption spectroscopy. The coating technology plays a key role in determining the suitability of a filter for a particular application. Advancements in coating technology are a large part of why laser absorption spectroscopy has become a highly scalable technology, enabling the development of more compact form factors. At Umicore Coating Services, we work closely with our customers through a consultative approach to develop custom IR designs that balance performance reliability with production efficiency. In doing so, we can offer a range of bandpass optical filters ideally suited to environmental gas detection and analysis applications, with a centre wavelength anywhere on the NIR to FIR spectrum with steep-edge and deep blocking capability. Solutions already exist to drive down global


methane emissions – now they must be properly utilised at scale.


LEGISLATION WILL DRIVE CHANGE The oil and gas industry is responsible for approximately 60% of all anthropogenic methane emissions, about half of which come from flaring and methane released during operations. If that isn’t a signal for seismic change, then


what is? It is now incumbent on all of us to make facilities as efficient as possible. Methane emissions have plagued the hydrocarbon


industry for too long and, as such, have remained a climate blind spot. Thankfully, technology isn’t the only pioneering work going on. Governments worldwide are taking urgent action to cut emissions from fossil fuel operations. The Inflation Reduction


Act (IRA), approved by the US Congress in August 2022, aims to narrow the US’s gap to meet its 2030 climate target. It prioritises measured methane emissions and emphasises their fiscal and environmental importance. Under the legislation, operators must only emit 0.2% of their natural gas production and pay for any excess methane emissions. Many observers believe


ENERGY & SUSTAINABILITY SOLUTIONS - Summer 2024 37


want to capture methane because it’s good for the climate and the bottom line. Meanwhile, the EU Commission is preparing


to finalise regulations for methane reduction in the coming months. While the landmark US policy is doing much of the thinking around cleaning up data on its feet, the EU iteration plans to make establishing accurate and transparent data on methane emissions across the entire value chain a top priority. Most operators see the benefits, tools and


technologies that exist, and they also understand where the gaps are that we need to develop to exploit the opportunity further. However, the consequences of not being able to quantify methane leakage are significant, and for a relatively low price, you can provide a high level of accuracy. Much like our work at Umicore Coating Services, we can make a difference by doing the basics exceptionally well and using data to drive a step-change. Methane represents a crucial opportunity in the


climate fight, and collaboration between industries, including lessons learned, advancements in methane technology, new research, and funding, will be key to making the most of the opportunity. Over the next few years, methane detection will


significantly ramp up on a size and scale we’ve never seen. And, as more data and experience are acquired, appropriate technology will be deployed across more assets to build momentum.


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