ABSTRACT

The quantification of methane emissions in the oil and gas industry is critical for environmental monitoring and regulatory compliance. As quantification efforts expand, comprehensive and consistent measurements are needed across all types of facilities. This paper explores the use of in situ methane sensors conveyed by drones to localise and quantify emissions in diverse operational environments. Drones equipped with advanced sensors offer a flexible and efficient solution for emissions data collection. The mobility of drones and efficient survey methods allow surveys to be quickly completed and enable accurate and consistent quantification. The use of in situ sensors overcomes the limitations of other remote methods (such as manned aircraft reflectivity or light detection and ranging (LiDAR)-based systems, satellites and fixed sensors), including operating effectively over water, localising sources laterally and vertically, quantifying to the equipment level and eliminating false positive/false negative results. Carefully developed operational practices and a robust analysis methodology mean that the results are comparable and repeatable across asset types and environments. This paper is based on examples from the Asia–Pacific region, describing the deployment of the technology in various oil and gas settings including offshore platforms, floating production assets, tankers, liquefied natural gas (LNG) facilities and onshore surveys. Examples are included for difficult low wind environments, which are common in parts of the region. The paper shares examples of what has been achieved with this type of technology to support the development of methane emissions measurement programs, facilitating transparent reporting under programs such as the Oil & Gas Methane Partnership 2.0 and European Union importation regulations, and supporting robust methane abatement plans.