Office of Research and Development National Risk Management Research Laboratory, Air Pollution Prevention and Control Division Photo image area measures 2” H x 6.93” W and can be masked by a collage strip of one, two or three images. The photo image area is located 3.19” from left and 3.81” from top of page. Each image used in collage should be reduced or cropped to a maximum of 2” high, stroked with a 1.5 pt white frame and positioned edge-to-edge with accompanying images. Fugitive methane assessment with mobile and fence line sensors CH4 Connections: September 23-24, 2014, The Woodlands, TX Eben Thoma - EPA / ORD / National Risk Management Research Laboratory Halley Brantley - EPA / ORD / National Risk Management Research Laboratory (ORISE Fellow) John Albertson - Duke University / Dept. of Civil Engineering NRMRL Fugitive and Area Source Group Source and Fenceline Measurements Methods and Technology Development

Next generation sensors for leak detection and repair (LDAR) Can next-gen mobile and fence line sensors help advance LDAR? Many groups demonstrating research applications but….. Are cost-effective automated systems within reach? Two important programs moving this topic forward -EDF Sensors Challenge ( ) -DOE ARPA-E MONITOR ( This topic is important for oil and gas and other sectors 1

2 Wind Low cost sensors - temporal coverage Find issues quickly

3 Wind Low cost open path - temporal and improved spatial coverage Find issues quickly

4 Wind Work truck sensor – off pad spatial coverage Find issues in many places

5 EPA ORD work on mobile and fence line

Toward Next Generation Sensors Detection sensitivity Low Implementation cost High Open-path systems ($$$$) Open-path systems ($$$$) Mobile systems ($$$$) Today’s Tech Methane sensors ($) Methane sensors ($) Automated mobile ($$) Low cost open-path ($$) Next gen

7 Peak CH 4 concentrations near well pads vs. instantaneous emission rate estimate Data acquired with EPA OTM 33A How good does your sensor need to be to detect the most important leaks?

8 IR video #1 showing small connection leak

9 IR video #2 showing small fitting leak

10 IR video #3 showing thief hatch malfunction (big leak)

11 IR video #4 showing ground pipeline (big leak)

driving path wind CH 4 Work truck version Get rid mast and $$$ instruments Put a CH 4 sensor under the bumper Work truck version Get rid mast and $$$ instruments Put a CH 4 sensor under the bumper Research gear Going from research to real world…. Research vehicle

Ideal future work truck sensors….. 100% automated - driver does not touch Compact - out of sight High reliability - no maintenance (switch out) Consistent - right level of sensitivity Data to the cloud - automated processing Integrated and real time response cost for truck sensor could be more than a well pad sensor 13

Work truck Sensor Wind data to cloud for processing / integration

Well pad locations and production levels Working on theory and simulations of work truck sensors….. Simulated emissions and driving path Sensor response

16 Consider this older production site – Is this a candidate for fixed-place sensors?…..

17 IR video #5 significant leak on older production site

Next generation sensors for leak detection and repair (LDAR) Summary Mobile / fence line can sensors help advance LDAR Cost-effective, automated systems are on the way Important for oil and gas and other sectors (e.g. refineries) Next generation sensors can help: -Reduce emissions -Save product -Make safer working environments 18