Unmanned aviation company Flylogix has partnered with emission sensor provider SeekOps for an emissions quantification offshore trial, making routine verification available to operators for the first time.
During a recent field test, the partnership used an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and sensor delivered detection rates capable of verifying emissions. The trial identified emissions in line with the very low levels of methane associated with normal operations of many facilities in the North Sea (<2.5 kg/hr).
Previous studies have relied upon survey aircraft with equipment normally used for research activities.
According to the partnership, this breakthrough comes from a long programme of rigorous offshore trials, testing and development of their UAV and methane measuring technology in the harsh and uncompromising environment of the North Sea.
This offshore methane measurement endeavour is part of a collaborative trial with support from energy majors including Bp, Total, Equinor, Harbour Energy and Shell.
In discussion with the operators, Flylogix conducted a pan-UKCS asset review using data reported through the Environmental and Emissions Measurement System (EEMS), establishing the requirement for lower detection performance at 10 kg/hr. This became the target, with a stretch target of 3kg/hr.
Initially, Flylogix and SeekOps trials west of Shetland demonstrated a lower detection threshold 40kg/hr. Needing to reduce this threshold by an order of magnitude, Flylogix and SeekOps, supported by OGTC, who helped accelerate the development and deployment of the technology, embarked on a development programme.
After lab-testing by the SeekOps team, the new technology was trialled in the air at a Flylogix test facility. The project was green-lit and offshore field trials commenced in March.
The first phase of field trials demonstrated a lower detection limit of 2.5kg/hr – a 93% increase in performance. The lower detection limit is influenced by variables including weather and stand-off distance from the asset.
A series of controlled release measurement flights are now scheduled to further validate these performance thresholds. The trials continue with measurement across a wide range of asset types in the northern, central and southern North Sea, as well as west of Shetland.
