Explicit ApS, one of Europe’s pioneers in the use of UAV technology to monitor emissions, has achieved ISO 17025 accreditation on a new drone-based method to quantify fugitive methane emissions at site level. The accreditation, the first of its kind in the world, provides the oil gas industry with a path to independently verify methane emissions at site level in compliance with OGMP 2.0.
One of the main climate challenges for the oil gas industry is correctly locating and estimating the total level of fugitive emissions of methane leaking from production and distribution. How much is actually being emitted from various sources and how does that compare to model assumptions currently being used in green reporting? The second challenge is to ensure integrity around any field measurements to be able to satisfy regulatory requirements and industry quality standards.
Danish-based engineering company Explicit ApS has managed to tackle both of those challenges by developing an innovative drone-based technique called the DFM (Drone Flux Measurement) Method, aimed at quantifying fugitive emissions of methane at site level, and secondly by achieving international ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation on its use.
“ISO/IEC 17025 is the international accreditation standard applicable to test laboratories. By achieving accreditation on the DFM method we are able to provide the oil gas industry with an independent option to verify their actual fugitive methane emissions at site level which complies with normal standards for environmental inspections“
Breakthrough in the use of drones for emissions monitoring
Explicit ApS has been working with ‘sniffer drones’ for more than 10 years and is considered one of the European pioneers in the use of drones for emissions monitoring. The DFM method is the engineering company’s latest invention, unique for its ability to map both gas concentration and wind flow directly from a drone during flight. The combination allows for greater measurement accuracy and better visualisation of the emissions drifting from a target site.
“The accreditation is not only an important recognition of the DFM method and the innovative work of Explicit, but it is also a breakthrough for how drones may be used in environmental monitoring. Until now, drones have mostly been used for visual inspections and in the case of emissions monitoring mainly for basic screening. This is no longer the case. Going forward, Explicit can offer drone-based inspection services for methane quantification under the same quality standards that apply to other accredited measurement methods“
OGMP 2.0 and future methane regulation
The assurance provided by quality standards such as ISO 17025 is highlighted in the OGMP 2.0 framework and a requirement for independent verification of actual emissions is expected to be part of upcoming EU regulation on methane emissions from the oil gas industry.
“As solution providers our goal is to make a positive difference on how emissions are monitored. By providing accuracy and transparency on the emissions in a way not previously possible, we can enhance efforts to identify sources and reduce emissions. Being able to provide a solid quality framework around the monitoring adds additional value and contributes to better data integrity overall in climate reporting and projections“
Beyond methane
Validated together with the Danish Technical University, TotalEnergies Anomaly Detection Initiative (TADI) and FORCE Technology, the DFM method has already proven its value in the field, both on and offshore, and not just for methane quantification but also for other greenhouse gases.
“We are currently experiencing a strong demand for quantitative measurements, not just for methane but also for nitrous oxide and CO2 and not just from oil and gas but also from other industries like the water and waste sectors. We have yet to explore the full spectrum of what drone-based techniques like DFM can do. This is only the beginning”
