Fugitive – Explicit

Emissions impact climate and air quality

We help find and quantify them

Drone Flux Measurement

A new highly accurate dronebase method of measuring fugitive climate gasses from different sources. Developed by Explicit, the DFM method uses a sniffer drone integrated with high performance gas and wind sensors.

Emissions impact both climate and air quality significantly, yet many of the sources remain scarcely documented. Using the DFM method, we can monitor them correctly and implement the right mitigating actions.

CH4

N2O

CO2

DFM - Key benefits

Suitable for different gases

Easy deployment over land and sea

Independendency from mean wind

Visualizations to support source localization

Single-man set up

No interference with site operations

High accurancy and low detection limit

Validated technology, patented method

From climate gas to emissions result

Combining sensors, software and lab services in one integrated solution, Explicit provides a full ISO 17025 compliant service.

1

Site survey & sampling plan

Preliminary analysis of the site: identification of possible sources, risk zones, feasible flight paths etc. Organization of the campaign.
2

Drone set-up and data collection

Gas and wind sensors are integrated to the drone. Through an adaptive flight pattern, the drone flights a vertical wall downwind from the site of interest, collecting thousands of data points.
3

Preliminary and final analysis

An automatized analysis provides the pilot real-time feedbacks on the flight.
Once the data collection is concluded, the analyst processes the data.
4

Emission report

A detailed emission report containing the average emission rates and visualizations to support source localization is presented to the client.

Quantification

Data are collected downwind from the site of interest, so that the emission plume is entirely intercepted by the drone. Because both gas and wind data are closely correlated in time and space, Explicit is able to accurately calculate the net emission rate (kg/h) across the inspected area and provide a consistent representation of the flux density of the gas flowing from the site.

Final emission rate is calculated using the data collected during at least 3 flights
20 % uncertainty in the final result
Possibility to quantify subsection contributions

Where DFM method can be used

Biogas plants

Isolating and quantifying methane emissions from biogas plants and refineries.

Oil/gas offshore platforms

Quantifyng methane emissions from flares, localizing leaks and identifying super-emitters from oil/gas production.

Farming

Monitoring diffuse methane emissions from cattle and pigs stables.

Waste water treatment plants

Quantifying nitrous oxide emissions from WWTP, which are often overlooked because of the difficulty in monitoring over water.

LNG Bunkering

Monitoring methane leaks during bunkering processes.

Research

Quantifying GHGs reductions when implementing a mitigation action or a new process; Or to validate emission factors and models.

Source detection

The flight flux density visualization is plotted on the site map, together with the average wind direction estimated during the flight (orange lines). These visualizations are presented in the emission report and can support the client in the localization of the sources.

Our services

Our emissions monitoring technologies and expertise are provided as adaptable service solutions, fitted to the task and the needs of the client. In some cases Explicit will provide full monitoring solutions including operations, data processing and reporting. In others, we work closely with operating partners and clients to execute inspections in the field while we focus on providing instrument payloads, data analysis support, training, and quality control.