RMLD-Sentry for Upstream Natural Gas Leak Monitoring

Under Development

Physical Sciences, Inc (PSI) More »

DOE ARPA-E

Damage Prevention and Mitigation -- Leak Detection

Miniaturized laser-based Remote Methane Leak Detector (RMLD) integrated with miniature unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), known as the InstantEye, to create the RMLD-Sentry. The measurement system is planned to be fully autonomous, providing technical and cost advantages compared to manual leak detection methods. The team anticipates that the system would have the ability to measure ethane, as well as methane, which would allow it to distinguish biogenic from thermogenic sources.

The RMLD-Sentry will locate wellpad leak sources and quantify emission rates by periodically surveying the wellpad, circling the facility at a low altitude, and dynamically changing its flight pattern to focus in on leak sources. When not in the air, RMLD-Sentry will monitor emissions around the perimeter of the site. If methane is detected, the UAV will self-deploy and search the wellpad until the leak location is identified and flow rate is quantified using algorithms to be developed by the team.

Reduced Operations Cost - PSI's design is anticipated to facilitate reduction in methane emissions at natural gas sites at an annualized cost of about $2,250 per year - a fraction of the cost of current continuous monitoring systems.

Increased Safety -

https://arpa-e.energy.gov/?q=slick-sheet-project/methane-leak-detection-system
https://www.fastcompany.com/3057447/this-drone-automatically-sniffs-out-climate-warming-gas-leaks
https://www.newswire.com/news/monitoring-fugitive-methane-emissions-utilizing-advanced-small-unmanned-9500029