Detection, localization, and quantification of single-source methane emissions on oil and gas production sites using point-in-space continuous monitoring systems

25 September 2023, Version 3
This content is a preprint and has not undergone peer review at the time of posting.

Abstract

We propose a generic, modular framework for methane emission event detection, localization, and quantification on oil and gas production sites that uses concentration and wind data collected by point-in-space continuous monitoring systems. The framework uses a gradient-based spike detection algorithm to estimate emission start and end times (event detection) and pattern matches simulated and observed concentrations to estimate emission source location (localization) and rate (quantification). We test the framework on a month of non-blinded, single-source controlled releases ranging from 0.50 to 8.25 hours in duration and 0.18 to 6.39 kg/hr in size. All controlled releases are identified and 82% are localized correctly. 5.5% of predicted events are false positives. For emissions < 1 kg/hr, the framework underestimates by -3.9% on average, with 90% of rate estimates within a percent difference of [-74.9%, 195.2%] or a factor difference of [-4.0, 3.0] from the true rate. For emissions > 1 kg/hr, the framework overestimates by 4.3% on average, with 90% of rate estimates within a percent difference of [-49.3%, 78.8%] or a factor difference of [-2.0, 1.8] from the true rate. Potential uses for the proposed framework include near real-time alerting for rapid emissions mitigation and emission quantification for data-driven inventory estimation on production sites.

Keywords

methane emissions
oil and gas
event detection
localization
quantification
continuous monitoring systems

Supplementary materials

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Description
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Title
Detection, localization, and quantification of single-source methane emissions on oil and gas production sites using point-in-space continuous monitoring systems - Supporting Information
Description
This document contains additional information about the spike detection algorithm and event detection, localization, and quantification framework proposed in the main text. The document also contains additional details about framework performance.
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