Grantee Research Project Results

Final Report: Monitoring Network for Methane Emissions

EPA Contract Number: 68HERC23C0020
Title: Monitoring Network for Methane Emissions
Investigators: Vakhtin, Andrei B
Small Business: Mesa Photonics, LLC
EPA Contact: Richards, April
Phase: I
Project Period: December 1, 2022 through May 31, 2023
Project Amount: $100,000
RFA: Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I (2023) RFA Text |  Recipients Lists
Research Category: SBIR - Water , SBIR - Homeland Security , SBIR - Sustainability , SBIR - Air and Climate

Description:

The overall goal of this project is to develop a rugged, sensitive, and selective optical methane (CH₄) monitoring technology. The compact, lightweight, and low-power methane monitor will be designed specifically to target the primary EPA application of continuous monitoring of methane emissions under harsh conditions relevant to oil and natural gas systems. Multiple monitors will be networked to provide improved measurement capabilities. Methane emission rates will be determined from concentration gradients across the network using wind speed and direction data and inverse dispersion calculations. 

Summary/Accomplishments (Outputs/Outcomes):

The Phase I research successfully demonstrated the feasibility of the proposed methane monitoring technology. Networking-capable laboratory prototype methane monitor was designed, and two units were built. Experimentally confirmed performance characteristics of the methane monitor match or exceed the specifications estimated in the Phase I proposal. These include ~1-2 ppm CH₄ measurement accuracy and precision with 1 s signal averaging, low long-term drift that does not exceed 1-2 ppm CH₄, impressive dynamic range covering six orders of magnitude, from 1 ppm to 100% CH₄, and excellent methane detection selectivity confirmed by both theoretical estimates and experimental studies. In addition, a self-checking procedure was experimentally demonstrated, which will relax re-calibration requirements for commercial instruments. A prototype, two-node wireless methane monitoring network was implemented and tested both in the laboratory and in the field. The field tests successfully demonstrated detecting and localizing methane leaks simulated by controlled methane releases. The Phase II prototype design is outlined, which includes compact optical and mechanical layout and custom analog and digital electronics to make the instrument compact, rugged and easy to operate.

Conclusions:

The feasibility of the proposed methane monitoring technology was successfully demonstrated, and the engineering challenges to be addressed in Phase II were identified. The work performed in Phase I resulted in development of a benchtop technology that is ready for transitioning to a prototype methane monitoring network in Phase II. The envisioned Phase II methane monitor will be a compact, self-contained prototype that preserves or exceeds the performance characteristics achieved in Phase I, and is capable of wireless networking and battery- and/or solar-powered operation.

The Phase I results provide a solid basis for the development and extensive testing of the prototype methane monitoring network in Phase II. We expect to field test our technology both in-house and jointly with the third parties who expressed interest in beta testing. Successful demonstration of the new technology will provide the foundation needed to proceed with Phase III commercialization. The major commercial application of the proposed technology is detection and quantifying emissions of natural gas in oil and gas industry. Mesa Photonics will manufacture the methane monitors as an OEM supplier to one or more leak detector and repair (LDAR) service companies serving the U.S. oil and gas industry. By the end of Phase II we will have a methane monitoring technology that is ready for commercial production.