{"id":670425,"date":"2025-05-21T00:00:30","date_gmt":"2025-05-20T21:00:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/drone-based-method-detects-major-methane-leaks-the-good-news-is-that-many-can-be-repaired-quickly\/"},"modified":"2025-05-21T00:00:30","modified_gmt":"2025-05-20T21:00:30","slug":"drone-based-method-detects-major-methane-leaks-the-good-news-is-that-many-can-be-repaired-quickly","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/drone-based-method-detects-major-methane-leaks-the-good-news-is-that-many-can-be-repaired-quickly\/","title":{"rendered":"Drone-based method detects major methane leaks\u2014the good news is that many can be repaired quickly"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_85 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a32cfe4297ec\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a32cfe4297ec\" checked aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/drone-based-method-detects-major-methane-leaks-the-good-news-is-that-many-can-be-repaired-quickly\/#Combined_drone_and_sensor_technology\" >Combined drone and sensor technology<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"article-gallery lightGallery\">\n<div data-thumb=\"https:\/\/scx1.b-cdn.net\/csz\/news\/tmb\/2025\/new-method-detects-maj.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/scx2.b-cdn.net\/gfx\/news\/2025\/new-method-detects-maj.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"When wind hits an obstacle, it flows around the obstacle and creates a low-pressure zone on the other side. This is known as a &quot;windwake&quot; and can be seen in the sand patterns in the image above, which was taken in the Canary Islands. Credit: Daniel Krause\/SINTEF\">\n<figure class=\"article-img\">\n            <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/scx1.b-cdn.net\/csz\/news\/800a\/2025\/new-method-detects-maj.jpg\" alt=\"New method detects major methane leaks\u2014the good news is that many can be repaired quickly\" title=\"When wind hits an obstacle, it flows around the obstacle and creates a low-pressure zone on the other side. This is known as a &quot;windwake&quot; and can be seen in the sand patterns in the image above, which was taken in the Canary Islands. Credit: Daniel Krause\/SINTEF\" width=\"800\" height=\"401\"\/><figcaption class=\"text-darken text-low-up text-truncate-js text-truncate mt-3\">\n                When wind hits an obstacle, it flows around the obstacle and creates a low-pressure zone on the other side. This is known as a &#8220;windwake&#8221; and can be seen in the sand patterns in the image above, which was taken in the Canary Islands. Credit: Daniel Krause\/SINTEF<br \/>\n            <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>When the wind hits an obstacle, it flows around it and creates a low-pressure zone on the other side, known as a &#8220;windwake.&#8221; This flow becomes clear in observing desert sand.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;The same thing h<a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/download-scripts-themes-apps\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"9\" title=\"Download Scripts &amp; Themes &amp; Apps\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">app<\/a>ens around offshore platforms. This means that the best place to measure the total methane emissions is not on the platform itself or very close by, but where the wind connects again. That&#8217;s often over a hundred meters away,&#8221; says Daniel Krause at SINTEF.<\/p>\n<p>Based on this understanding, researchers have developed a new drone-based measurement strategy that makes it possible to detect and reduce methane emissions\u2014often almost overnight.<\/p>\n<p>The method is based on a deeper understanding of methane&#8217;s behavior and has already yielded major results.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;When the measurement method was tested on the Gj\u00f8a platform, which is owned by V\u00e5r Energi, we discovered a methane gas leak that corresponds to an annual emission of 100 metric tons,&#8221; says Krause.<\/p>\n<p>The measurement method was developed by SINTEF through the LowEmission research center.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;It took no more than a week for V\u00e5r Energi to carry out the necessary repairs and reduce its emissions by a full 98%. The method has huge potential, and we&#8217;re pleased that other operators can also use it now,&#8221; says Krause. He is a research engineer at SINTEF and has been involved in developing the <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/technology\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"4\" title=\"Technology\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">technology<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>                                                                                                        <!-- TechX - News - In-article --><\/p>\n<p>Up to now, it has been challenging to monitor overall methane emissions from oil platforms, as leaks can come from varied and scattered sources. The researchers have now gained a deeper understanding of the wind conditions around platforms, and discovered that it is possible to combine measurements from the scattered sources at one point, more than 100 meters from the platform. Measuring the emissions at a single point provides a more comprehensive understanding of the total emissions, allowing for more targeted work to reduce them.<\/p>\n<p>The method is now freely available to all operators, both within and outside Norway. The method describes the procedure in enough detail for operators to be able to use it.<\/p>\n<p>How important is it to solve this problem, and what makes this new technology so innovative?<\/p>\n<p>Methane is the second-largest driver of climate change after CO\u2082. Although it has a much shorter lifetime in the atmosphere\u2014around 12 years, compared to several centuries for CO\u2082\u2014methane emissions heat the atmosphere much faster. Methane accounts for about a third of global warming today, and methane concentrations in the atmosphere have increased sharply over the past decade.<\/p>\n<p>That is why authorities around the world are working on new laws to combat emissions, such as a <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/energy.ec.europa.eu\/topics\/carbon-management-and-fossil-fuels\/methane-emissions_en#regulation-on-methane-emissions-reduction-in-the-energy-sector\" target=\"_blank\">new EU regulation to reduce methane emissions in the energy sector<\/a> and several upcoming ones that are part of the <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.consilium.europa.eu\/en\/policies\/fit-for-55\/\" target=\"_blank\">EU&#8217;s Fit for 55 climate package<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>The methane regulation places strict requirements on oil and gas production for accurately reporting and repairing leaks to cut methane emissions. There&#8217;s just one problem: we don&#8217;t actually know how much methane is being released.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;The biggest challenge for offshore operators is to obtain frequent and precise enough measurements of methane emissions that provide practically applicable information\u2014how much methane is being emitted and from which sources,&#8221; says Krause.<\/p>\n<p>He says that many existing measurement methods have significant uncertainty and provide a limited basis for decision-making. This in turn leads to fewer emission reductions. Without good reference measurements, it is difficult to understand the true extent of emissions\u2014and without that insight, the opportunity to reduce them is limited.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;After all, you can&#8217;t stop a leak that you don&#8217;t know exists,&#8221; says Krause.<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-gallery lightGallery\">\n<div data-thumb=\"https:\/\/scx1.b-cdn.net\/csz\/news\/tmb\/2025\/new-method-detects-maj-1.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/scx2.b-cdn.net\/gfx\/news\/2025\/new-method-detects-maj-1.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Daniel Krause, a research engineer at SINTEF, measures methane emissions on an offshore platform. Credit: SINTEF\">\n<figure class=\"article-img text-center\">\n            <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/scx1.b-cdn.net\/csz\/news\/800a\/2025\/new-method-detects-maj-1.jpg\" alt=\"New method detects major methane leaks\u2014the good news is that many can be repaired quickly\" title=\"Daniel Krause, a research engineer at SINTEF, measures methane emissions on an offshore platform. Credit: SINTEF\"\/><figcaption class=\"text-left text-darken text-truncate text-low-up mt-3\">\n                Daniel Krause, a research engineer at SINTEF, measures methane emissions on an offshore platform. Credit: SINTEF<br \/>\n            <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Combined_drone_and_sensor_technology\"><\/span>Combined drone and sensor technology<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>&#8220;Using drones to measure emissions from offshore platforms is nothing new. The innovation lies in where and how we carry out these measurements\u2014and how we integrate them with measurements made directly on the platform,&#8221; the research engineer says.<\/p>\n<p>As mentioned, methane leaks can come from a number of different sources on an offshore platform. While we can find and stop leaks by measuring specific emission sources, it is important to have a reference point\u2014a place where the total amount of emissions can be determined. This will tell us whether all significant leaks have been detected or if any remain.<\/p>\n<p>The researchers therefore equipped a DJI M600 Pro drone with a Trisonica wind sensor and an ABB LGR HoverGuard methane gas and CO\u2082 sensor adapted to the drone.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Based on our understanding of the role of wind, we fly the drone in a tailored scanning pattern, a so-called &#8216;flux plane,&#8217; in the areas where the emissions collect and pass through. This ensures more precise and reliable measurements,&#8221; Krause says.<\/p>\n<p>The drone measurements are then compared to direct measurements from sources on the platform, both from emission sources already known to the operator and from what Krause measures. This includes sampling the produced water, measuring gas turbine exhaust and effective leak detection and repair (LDAR).<\/p>\n<p>That is exactly how Krause discovered the 100-metric-ton-per-year leak on V\u00e5r Energi&#8217;s platform\u2014a leak that was fixed within a week.<\/p>\n<p>The next step is to simplify these improved measurement methods through remote control or autonomous flights. The simpler the measurements, the more easily they can be carried out, leading to a better understanding of emissions and a faster turnaround in reducing them. In the future, this procedure will hopefully be as easy as pressing a button.<\/p>\n<div class=\"d-inline-block text-medium my-4\">\n                                                Provided by<br \/>\n                                                                                                    Norwegian University of <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/sciencee\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"5\" title=\"Science\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Science<\/a> and Technology<br \/>\n                                                    \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"icon_open\" href=\"http:\/\/www.ntnu.edu\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<use href=\"https:\/\/techx.b-cdn.net\/tmpl\/v2\/img\/svg\/sprite.svg#icon_open\" x=\"0\" y=\"0\"\/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/svg><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n<p>                                        <!-- print only --><\/p>\n<div class=\"d-none d-print-block\">\n<p>\n                                                <strong>Citation<\/strong>:<br \/>\n                                                Drone-based method detects major methane leaks\u2014the good <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/news\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"2\" title=\"News\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">news<\/a> is that many can be repaired quickly (2025, May 20)<br \/>\n                                                retrieved 20 May 2025<br \/>\n                                                from https:\/\/techxplore.com\/news\/2025-05-drone-based-method-major-methane.html\n                                            <\/p>\n<p>\n                                            This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no<br \/>\n                                            part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only.\n                                            <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><script id=\"facebook-jssdk\" async=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/connect.facebook.net\/en_US\/sdk.js\"><\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong><span style=\"color: #ff6600;\">If you liked the article, do not forget to share it with your friends. Follow us on\u00a0<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><a style=\"color: #ff0000;\" href=\"https:\/\/news.google.com\/publications\/CAAqBwgKMN63nwsw68G3Aw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">Google News<\/a><\/span>\u00a0too, click on the star and choose us from your favorites.<\/span><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>If you want to read more Like this articles, you can visit our <span style=\"color: #ff9900;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/category\/sciencee\/\" target=\"_blank\" >Science category.<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"color: black;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/techxplore.com\/news\/2025-05-drone-based-method-major-methane.html\" target=\"_blank\" >Source<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>When wind hits an obstacle, it flows around the obstacle and creates a low-pressure zone on the other side. This is known as a &#8220;windwake&#8221; and can be seen in the sand patterns in the image above, which was taken in the Canary Islands. Credit: Daniel Krause\/SINTEF When the wind hits an obstacle, it flows&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":670426,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/scx2.b-cdn.net\/gfx\/news\/2025\/new-method-detects-maj.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[16],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-670425","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sciencee"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/670425","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=670425"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/670425\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/670426"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=670425"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=670425"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=670425"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}