Category: Media

The Science of Precision – How the SeekIR Sensor Works

Posted on | by Courtney Clark

Understanding how light, lasers, and a bit of aerospace science help us measure methane with exceptional accuracy.

Read time: 5 minutes

Detecting Methane with Light

How do you “see” a gas that is invisible to the naked eye?

That’s the challenge our team set out to solve with the SeekIR® sensor. Methane is colorless and odorless, but it interacts with specific wavelengths of light in a very predictable way. When laser light passes through a plume of methane, any methane molecules in the way will absorb some of the light. By measuring how much light gets through, we can determine how much methane was present. This technique is called absorption spectroscopy, and it allows us to measure methane with exceptional precision, down to parts per billion. That’s like spotting a single drop of ink in an Olympic-size swimming pool.

This optical approach is powerful because it’s non-contact and extremely fast, making it ideal for mobile platforms like drones.

Construction of the SeekIR® Sensor at our on-site lab.

The Basics of Absorption Spectroscopy

Imagine shining a flashlight through a fog. Some of the light makes it through, and some gets absorbed by the tiny water droplets. By measuring how much light is absorbed, you can learn something about what’s in the fog.

In our case, instead of a flashlight, we use a Tunable Diode Laser (TDL) that emits light at a specific wavelength that methane molecules are known to absorb. And instead of fog, we’re looking through air that may or may not contain methane. If methane is present, it will absorb some of the laser light, and our detector on the other side will see a dip in the signal.

Drawing of the sensor operating principle of laser absorption spectrometry to determine methane concentration.

This process is described by the Beer-Lambert Law, a physics equation that helps us calculate exactly how much methane is in the air based on how much light was absorbed. This is the same principle used in laboratories, but we’ve miniaturized and ruggedized it for use in real-world environments on unmanned aerial systems (UAS).

Graph displaying light absorption (reduction in laser intensity) due to interaction with methane molecules.

Building a Better Sensor

Not all sensors are created equal. While laser spectrometers exist on the market, the SeekIR® sensor was engineered for maximum sensitivity and durability, combining aerospace-grade optics with field-ready design.

To boost sensitivity, the SeekIR® sensor uses a special design called a Herriott Cell, a key feature to the design. Think of it like a hall of mirrors, our laser bounces back and forth between two highly reflective surfaces, giving it a longer path to interact with any methane molecules in the air. The longer the path, the more chances we have to detect even tiny amounts of gas.

We also use a technique called Wavelength Modulation Spectroscopy (WMS). This method “tunes” the laser rapidly across a small range of wavelengths, helping us cut through background noise and measure only what we care about. It’s like tuning a radio to the exact frequency of your favorite station while filtering out static. This means our readings are both more accurate and more robust, even when environmental conditions aren’t ideal.

Simplified drawing of the implementation of Wavelength Modulation Spectroscopy (WMS) using a tunable diode laser (TDL) for gas sample diagnostics.

 Built for Real-World Conditions

Sensitive scientific instruments are usually delicate or don’t hold up in the field, but this one is different.

We perform a rigorous multi-point calibration of each sensor in our laboratory, allowing it to maintain high accuracy across a broad dynamic range of methane concentrations. This step is critical to ensure the sensor produces consistent, quantitative data, regardless of whether it’s detecting a small background enhancement or a significant leak event.

Following calibration, each sensor is placed in an environmental chamber where it’s subjected to controlled humidity conditions ranging from 0% to 95% relative humidity (RH). This ensures the sensor’s optical and electronic systems remain stable even in highly variable weather conditions.

The sensor’s robustness is further confirmed through temperature validation tests between -20°C and 55°C, simulating the harshest real-world environments, from frozen oilfields to tropical biogas facilities. These extremes are not hypothetical—they reflect the demanding conditions our clients face across global field deployments.

Additionally, it’s ruggedized for the harshest environments. The ruggedization is verified through the shock and vibration testing completed at our factory. Confirming it’s ready to operate around the world in a variety of winds, temperatures, and high altitudes without missing a beat.

The SeekIR® sensor can and has operated in a variety of these harsh environments.

Why Precision Matters

In emissions monitoring, small errors can lead to big consequences.

When you’re trying to quantify emissions that can change rapidly with weather or equipment conditions, precision is everything. An error of just a few parts per million could mean the difference between reporting a small leak or missing a much larger one. Operators may delay repairs, regulators may receive incomplete data, and companies may miss emissions targets. That’s why precision isn’t just a nice-to-have, it’s a requirement.

Once calibrated in the factory, our laser-based sensor doesn’t require recalibration in the field and maintains its accuracy over time even after extended use. That gives us and our customers confidence in the data we collect, whether it’s being used for regulatory reporting, sustainability goals, or leak detection and repair (LDAR) programs.

A Foundation for Smarter Decisions

By precisely measuring methane in the air, the SeekIR® sensor forms the backbone of our measurement system. It tells us when methane is present, how much there is, and helps guide our drone flights to find the source.

And while the technology might be based on sophisticated optics and physics, the goal is simple: give companies a reliable way to see what was once invisible—and take action.

In our next post, we’ll explore how methane behaves in the atmosphere and why mobility (like flying a drone) is key to understanding emissions in three dimensions.

Stay tuned for the next post in our series: “Capturing the Invisible – Methane Plumes in Motion.”

Want to learn how precise methane detection helps reduce emissions?
Contact Us to discover how SeekIR® can support your environmental goals.

References

Hanson, R. K., Spearrin, R. M., & Goldenstein, C. S. (2016). Spectroscopy and Optical Diagnostics for Gases (Vol. 1). Springer. https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-319-23252-2

Webster, C. R. (2005). Measuring methane and its isotopes 12CH₄, 13CH₄, and CH₃D on the surface of Mars with in situ laser spectroscopy. Applied Optics, 44(7), 1226–1235. https://doi.org/10.1364/AO.44.001226

Corbett, A., & Smith, B. (2022). Study of a Miniature TDLAS System Onboard Two Unmanned Aircraft to Independently Quantify Methane Emissions from Oil and Gas Production Assets and Other Industrial Emitters. Atmosphere, 13(5), 804. https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos13050804

NASA Spinoff (2019). Methane Detector Sniffs Out Leaks. NASA Technology Transfer Program. https://spinoff.nasa.gov/Spinoff2019/ps_7.html

From Martian Methane to Methane Reduction: The Origin of SeekOps Technology

Posted on | by Courtney Clark

Discover how SeekOps turned a Mars rover methane sensor into a powerful emissions monitoring tool—precision built for space, used to reduce climate change on Earth.

Read time: 5 minutes

Timeline on the Evolution of SeekOps

A Journey That Began on Mars

At SeekOps, our technology has a rather extraordinary origin story. Long before it was detecting methane leaks at energy facilities, the core sensor behind our platform was developed to help search for life on Mars.

Yes, that Mars.

Our sensor was born at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) as part of the Curiosity Rover mission. Scientists needed a tool sensitive enough to detect even the smallest traces of methane, a gas that on Mars could be a clue pointing toward microbial life. Because Mars has only tiny amounts of methane in its atmosphere, the instrument had to be extremely precise and accurate with the ability to pick up even the faintest signal.

What the JPL team didn’t foresee was how this breakthrough would later be used to tackle one of Earth’s most pressing climate challenges — methane emissions monitoring. That same core technology is now the foundation of SeekOps’ globally deployed sensor systems, helping industries detect and reduce greenhouse gases with unprecedented accuracy.

Transforming Space-Tech into Climate-Tech

After being successfully deployed on another planet, the methane detection technology was “spun out” of NASA in 2017 and adapted for use in our own atmosphere. That’s when SeekOps was born.

Our team saw enormous potential: methane is a powerful greenhouse gas, more than 80 times more potent than carbon dioxide over a 20-year period, resulting in a huge impact for the climate. It is responsible for about 30% of current global warming, according to the International Energy Agency. Because it dissipates faster than CO₂ in the atmosphere, cutting methane offers one of the fastest, most impactful ways to slow climate change in the near term.

Detecting and reducing emissions is a priority across the energy industry and beyond. Yet, until recently, many tools lacked the sensitivity or mobility to measure it effectively, especially in hard-to-reach places or dynamic environments such as oil and gas facilities, landfills, biogas plants, and more.

SeekOps set out to change that. Adapting the Martian sensor for terrestrial use required more than a simple repackaging. Earth’s atmosphere is denser, more humid, and far more variable than that of Mars, demanding significant engineering adaptations. The SeekOps team miniaturized the platform even further, integrated it with unmanned aerial systems (UAS), and reconfigured it for accurate measurements in industrial settings. They also developed fully autonomous workflows that allowed the sensor to be deployed at scale — from drones surveying oil and gas facilities to quantification and attribution workflows in the cloud.

The result is a compact yet powerful methane detection tool that blends space-grade precision with the practicality and flexibility required for global emissions monitoring.

Field-Tested. Field-Proven.

Bringing the sensor down to Earth wasn’t enough—we needed to prove it works in real-world conditions. That’s why we took it to the Methane Emissions Technology Evaluation Center (METEC) in Colorado.

Our sensor was one of the first methane detection platforms evaluated at METEC, a controlled test facility that simulates real-world emission scenarios. The sensor performed exceptionally well, with results showing high sensitivity and consistent quantification accuracy across a range of emission rates and environmental conditions. Our sensor outperformed the rest, detecting leaks without false positives or false negatives.

Independent evaluations, including those conducted by Stanford University and industry-leading operators, confirmed the technology’s reliability. Unlike many alternatives, SeekOps’ system not only detected emissions at very low levels but also provided accurate quantification, even in the presence of wind, obstructions, or multiple sources.

These capabilities have led to wide adoption by major energy companies, government programs, and climate accountability initiatives, reinforcing SeekOps’ position as a trusted partner in methane detection.

Real-World Impact Around the Globe

Since its commercialization, SeekOps has surveyed more than 2,000 facilities across over 35 countries and six continents, including over 100 offshore platforms. The technology has been deployed in a wide range of sectors: from upstream and midstream oil and gas operations to renewable natural gas projects, landfills, biogas digesters, and waste management sites.

Each deployment provides detailed, site-specific emissions data that customers use to make operational improvements, address leaks, and comply with stringent climate regulations. The results speak for themselves. Since 2021, SeekOps has enabled the measurement of over 1.1 million tonnes of methane annually, equivalent to about 31 million tonnes of carbon dioxide. These measurements support programs such as OGMP 2.0 and the EU Methane Regulation, as well as new frameworks such as GTI Veritas, OneFuture, or MiQ in the United States.

SeekOps doesn’t just provide detection — it enables action.

Why It Matters

Methane detection isn’t just about compliance. It’s about protecting our environment and improving operational safety. Every undetected leak is a lost resource and a missed opportunity to reduce climate impact. While it often escapes through small leaks or malfunctioning equipment, it has historically been difficult to detect and measure, especially at scale.

Because our sensor was designed to operate in one of the harshest environments imaginable—another planet—it’s incredibly reliable and sensitive. That means SeekOps can detect and quantify even low-level emissions in complex, real-world conditions.

By turning invisible emissions into actionable insights, operators can now locate even small leaks, prioritize repairs, and demonstrate measurable reductions. This capability is no longer a “nice-to-have,” but a core requirement for companies that are serious about reducing their carbon footprint and meeting regulatory or ESG expectations.

SeekOps Equipment Up Close and in Action

From Red Planet to Blue Planet

Today, what started as a mission to find life on Mars is helping us preserve life here on Earth.

SeekOps is proud to carry that legacy forward by combining scientific rigor, cutting-edge technology, and environmental stewardship to support industries in their efforts to reduce emissions and build a more sustainable future. Our company is expanding its sensor platform to detect other greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide. It is also developing AI-powered analytics to automate emissions source attribution and support predictive maintenance. All of this aims at making emissions data even more useful, and actionable, for customers.

As the world continues to embrace transparency, accountability, and decarbonization, SeekOps is committed to providing the tools that enable real change. Whether you’re new to emissions monitoring or an industry veteran, we’re excited to share how our tools work and why they matter.

Stay tuned for the next post in our series: “The Science of Precision – How the SeekIR® Sensor Works.”

Curious how space-age tech can improve sustainability on Earth?
Request a Demo or Explore Our Technology to see how SeekOps is transforming emissions monitoring around the world.

References

Webster, C. R. (2005). Measuring methane and its isotopes 12CH₄, 13CH₄, and CH₃D on the surface of Mars within situ laser spectroscopy. Applied Optics, 44(7), 1226–1235. https://doi.org/10.1364/AO.44.001226

NASA Spinoff (2019). Methane Detector Sniffs Out Leaks. NASA Technology Transfer Program. https://spinoff.nasa.gov/Spinoff2019/ps_7.html

Ravikumar, A. P., Wang, J., Sreedhara, S., et al. (2019). Single-blind inter-comparison of methane detection technologies: Results from the Stanford/EDF Mobile Monitoring Challenge. Elementa: Science of the Anthropocene, 7(1), 37. https://doi.org/10.1525/elementa.373

Hossian, R. I., et al. (2024). A Controlled Release Experiment for Investigating Methane Measurement Performance at Landfills. Environmental Research and Education Foundation (EREF). https://erefdn.org/eref-funded-study-highlights-advances-in-measuring-landfill-methane-emissions

Corbett, A., & Smith, B. (2022). Study of a Miniature TDLAS System Onboard Two Unmanned Aircraft to Independently Quantify Methane Emissions from Oil and Gas Production Assets and Other Industrial Emitters. Atmosphere, 13(5), 804. https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos13050804

 

seekops biogas case study

Leading RNG Producer Achieves 71% Emissions Cut Using SeekOps Surveys

Posted on | by SeekOps Admin

Biogas and biomethane are renewable energy sources produced from the decay of organic matter such as plants, food waste, and animal waste. A leading North American biogas operator, recognizing the high value of these products in terms of both raw output and carbon credits, partnered with SeekOps to benchmark their sites for methane emissions and pinpoint leaks for targeted repairs.

Key Goals

  • Detect, localize, and quantify methane emissions to prioritize operational repairs to maximize revenue from biogas production and carbon credits
  • Benchmark total site emissions across selected North American biogas facilities
  • Ensure emissions abatement through repeat surveys to assess repair effectiveness

Specific Circumstances

Biogas facilities contain a complex array of small assets, including influent systems, separators, anaerobic digesters (both concrete and membrane), utilities, flare stacks, and gas upgrading stations. These compact layouts pose unique challenges for emissions monitoring, as traditional methods like aircraft and satellite monitoring lack the necessary detail for such small-scale assets.

Additionally, the facilities need a cost-effective, efficient, and safe method to identify, localize, and quantify multiple potential leak sources across their sites. The operator also faced pressure to maximize their revenue from both biogas production and carbon credits, making accurate emissions detection and quantification crucial in ensuring asset integrity.

What We Did

SeekOps implemented an emissions monitoring strategy tailored to the unique needs of the biogas facilities. We began by capturing high-resolution orthomosaic images using drones to contextualize emissions across the facility. Our proprietary SeekIR® sensor, capable of detecting methane at part-per-billion levels, was mounted on enterprise-grade drones and deployed for detailed emissions profiling. We conducted drone flights downwind of specific equipment groups.

methane emissions survey at biogas facility
Measuring upgrade system emissions

In areas where emissions were detected, our team used the sensor in handheld mode to further refine leak locations, tagging them for investigation and repair. To ensure consistent monitoring, we established waypoints at the facility, enabling fully automated, repeatable surveys for swift follow-up and accurate comparisons of pre- and post-repair emissions.

handheld methane detection at leak locations
Confirming emissions points in handheld mode

Throughout the process, we compiled reports including benchmark emissions, emissions heatmaps, emissions by equipment group, and specific areas needing repair. After repairs were completed, we conducted additional automated flights to compare against initial benchmarks, producing final reports that showed post-repair emissions numbers and quantified changes attributed to repairs. This approach allowed for efficient, safe, and cost-effective emissions monitoring while providing the detailed data necessary for the client to make informed decisions about repairs and optimize their operations.

Outcome

SeekOps’ surveys and follow-up assessments yielded significant results for the biogas facility:

  • Discovered significantly more leaks than initially expected, highlighting the effectiveness of our high-sensitivity sensor
  • Identified multiple leak paths, including digestor insulation junctions, agitators, gas upgrading hoses, flanges, and scrubbers
  • Revealed that effluent ponds were exhibiting high emissions, indicating inefficient digestion processes
  • Detected a critical issue where a flow meter was venting nearly 25% of production, leading to substantial product loss
  • Enabled the client to save over $600,000 in lost revenue due to early leak detection
  • Achieved a 71% average decrease in emissions following repairs identified by SeekOps’ surveys

These outcomes demonstrate the value of SeekOps’ precise emissions monitoring service in improving operational efficiency, reducing methane emissions, and maximizing revenue for biogas facilities.

screenshot of rng membrane digestor in emissions report
Highlighting membrane digestor emissions points. (1) Shutoff valve flange, (2) Upper flange, (3) Access port, (4) Flange
screenshot of biogas concrete digestor hot spots in emissions report
Concrete Digestor Emission ‘hot spots’ – typically holes in the digestor
site scan of oil and gas site for methane emissions

2022 Inflation Reduction Act Includes New Regulations for Emission Monitoring

Posted on | by SeekOps Admin

When it comes to climate change, we can all do our part to help monitor and reduce emissions. As part of their efforts to address this issue on a larger scale, the US government introduced the Inflation Reduction Act. SeekOps has taken the time to understand how this act will impact processes and procedures for monitoring and reporting emissions.

With a primary goal to mitigate the effects of global climate change, we have examined the various acts and legislations that will affect our work and technology,  so that our teams can implement best practices on a global scale. Read on to discover how one of the more recent legislation updates will affect our work to reduce emissions in the US.

How Does the Inflation Reduction Act Impact Emission Monitoring?

With around $369 billion invested under the Inflation Reduction Act, the federal government expects emissions to be reduced by around 40% by 2030. To effectively reach that target, states need to monitor the emissions they’re generating and implement effective solutions to reduce the number of emissions; this means accurately, reliably, and consistently quantifying emissions using independently-validated, field-proven technologies and analytics.

At SeekOps, our team has deployed our unique methane sensor on unmanned aerial systems/drones globally, using automated flight paths to optimize measurement of all site emissions. SeekOps technology delivers direct methane measurement, accurate quantification and leak localization at equipment group level, ensuring that the emissions reported represent current operations and enabling prompt remedial action for the operator’s repair team.

The Methane Emissions Reduction Program (Sec. 60113)

This new Act also features the Methane Emissions Reduction Program. This particular program introduces a fee that oil and gas companies must pay should their facilities emit methane. These companies must report their emissions per the Clean Air Act. Greenhouse gas emissions that exceed 25,000 metric tonnes per year will incur a charge of $900 per metric tonne of methane for 2024; this rate will increase on an annual basis.

Amendments to the Clean Air Act

Another piece of legislation that has shaped how we monitor and address greenhouse gas emissions is the Clean Air Act. When the Act was implemented in 2011, it established key standards for greenhouse gas emission regulation based on research by the US Environmental Protection Authority (EPA).

But with the recent passing of the Inflation Reduction Act, the US Government amended the Clean Air Act to classify carbon dioxide, hydrofluorocarbons, methane, nitrous oxide, perfluorocarbons and sulfur hexafluoride as air pollutants that are harming our environment. This updated classification means the EPA now has access to more funds to regulate these emissions and work towards the goal of slashing emissions by 40% before 2030.

Effective Ways to Increase Carbon Credits and Decrease Emissions

Though fully eliminating carbon emissions might seem like the goal to achieve, for some businesses it’s just not possible. This is where the concept of carbon credits comes into play. In its simplest form, carbon credits allow businesses to release a certain amount of greenhouse gasses. One credit often equates to one metric tonne of carbon emissions, and if their emissions exceed the amount of credits that they have, then the companies will have to purchase more credits as an extra allowance.

Additionally, the new legislation has incentivized emissions reduction measures by way of tax credits. By offering tax credits for things like underground carbon storage, or repurposing emissions into usable energy sources like renewable natural gas, business now have many more resources available to reduce their overall greenhouse gas emissions. With the credits being directly related to ‘product in pipe’ or retained production, asset integrity and finding and eliminating emissions as soon as they occur is a critical incentive.

Cutting Edge Greenhouse Gas Emission Monitoring System

Here at SeekOps, we offer our clients cutting-edge greenhouse gas emission monitoring systems, ensuring that they have the data that they need to effectively reach their emissions reduction goals. Recent results for a biogas producer highlighted an 84% reduction in emissions before and after remedial action for leaks identified by SeekOps.

We can help you optimize your methane and carbon output, so that you can stay compliant, maximize tax credits, and reduce fees due to elevated emissions – all while maintaining a safe operation that minimizes environmental impact.

Get in Touch

If you’re seeking to reduce your business’s carbon emissions, then SeekOps has the perfect solution for you – unobtrusive, accurate and fast. Our customer-focused team, consisting of skilled engineers, data analysts, and network of FAA-certified pilots, can provide cost-effective and high-quality field services to meet the specific needs of your operation, wherever they are. Get in touch here to find out more.

offshore engineer magazine article

SeekOps’ Dave Turner Discusses LDAR in Offshore Engineer Magazine

Posted on | by SeekOps Admin

SeekOps’ Business Development Director for Asia Pacific, Dave Turner, was recently interviewed on the topic of LDAR (Leak Detection and Repair) for Offshore Engineer Magazine. In it, Turner discusses how independent top-down emissions monitoring should help to validate bottom-up measurements.

Here’s an excerpt:

The US and EU are looking to make emitters pay, but customer and corporate goals are becoming important too, even in places where the regulations are not as developed. “It’s early days in many places for measuring and reporting emissions. A lot of operators are still figuring out their strategy,” says Dave Turner, Business Development Director – Asia Pacific for SeekOps. “Here in Southeast Asia, where there are hundreds of platforms, you can inspect a lot of them very quickly using a drone.”

As detection technology grows in sophistication, a top-down approach is supplementing the more traditional bottom-up approach to LDAR. The aim, says Turner, is to validate bottom-up measurements using a directly measured independent method. Companies are looking to quantify methane emissions at a macro level to reconcile the numbers obtained by identifying specific leaks with drone-mounted or fixed sensors and hand-held tools.

Read the full article here.

profile photos of two people on starry sky background

SeekOps Team Discusses Methane Monitoring on Let’s Clear the Air Podcast

Posted on | by Jordan Schultz

SeekOps CEO Iain Cooper and VP of Business Development Paul Khuri were featured on a recent of episode of the Let’s Clear the Air – a podast from the GPA Midstream Association focused on education and advocacy for a better energy future. The episode delves into ways the industry is innovating and the breakthrough technologies being deployed to detect and measure methane leaks.

Topics covered in the interview include:

  • The challenge of methane emissions for the industry and how technology is helping companies meet that challenge
  • The history behind SeekOps’ sensors developed by NASA and the company’s differentiator, quantifying methane leaks
  • The locations and different industries that are utilizing SeekOps technology
  • The challenges of methane detection – there’s no technology that fits every scenario
  • Impact of regulatory pressures on the industry
  • The commitment of the industry to reduce emissions

Listen to the full podcast episode in these places:

Podcast Website | Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify

 

methane from landfills

How Monitoring Landfill Methane Helps Both Landfill Businesses and the Environment

Posted on | by SeekOps Admin

You might be surprised to know that landfills are a perfectly hospitable ecosystem for life. The phrase “one person’s trash is another person’s treasure” has never been more appropriate when considering the microbiological paradise created from organic, human waste.

In a typical landfill, organic waste such as food scraps and paper decompose and release methane gas. This gas is flammable, so it must be vented from the landfill to avoid explosions. The process of decomposition is driven by bacteria that thrive in the anaerobic (oxygen-less) conditions of the landfill.

These bacteria break down complex organic molecules into simpler ones that can be used as food by other organisms in the ecosystem. In this way, a single banana peel can end up feeding countless creatures over its time in the landfill!

This cycle of breaking down and recycling organic matter is essential for life on Earth. It’s estimated that every year, microorganisms living in landfills recycle about 1 billion tons (900 million metric tons) of carbon –  that’s nearly 20% of what the United States emits annually.

What is landfill gas?

The decomposition of organic waste creates ‘landfill gas’ – largely made up of methane and other greenhouse gases. Methane is a powerful, climate-warming greenhouse gas that is around 30 times more potent than carbon dioxide over a 100-year period.

How is methane used at landfills?

The methane that makes up landfill gas is considered renewable – it is created without the use of non-renewable fossil fuels. This methane, colloquially referred to as Renewable Natural Gas (RNG), can be used just like typical natural gas – as fuel for energy production, to heat homes, or power Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) vehicles.

RNG can be used in a number of ways:

  • Generating electricity in a gas-fired power plant
  • Scrubbed and used as fuel for natural gas vehicles
  • Supplying pipeline-quality natural gas to homes and businesses

What are some benefits of using RNG?

Landfill sites that offer RNG production can create a valuable resource out of something that has otherwise been sitting unused. In terms of air quality, burning RNG is much cleaner than burning fossil fuels. An overall reduction in total methane emissions can help to mitigate climate warming since RNG is derived from captured methane that would have otherwise been vented to the atmosphere. Its increased use can help improve local air quality by reducing emissions of other pollutants.

RNG offers a number of benefits over traditional fossil fuels:

  • RNG is a cleaner burning fuel, both lowering the abundance of atmospheric methane and emitting fewer harmful particulates than coal or oil when used to generate electricity.
  • Using RNG can displace the use of non-renewable fossil fuels, helping to reduce our reliance on these limited resources. 
  • Producing RNG can create jobs and economic activity at landfill sites

Many operators have already realized this and implemented gas collection wells to capture the vented gas.

Why methane emissions from landfills need to be measured

The scale of landfill methane emissions

According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), landfills make up almost 17% of methane emissions in the United States (see page ES-13 of the latest GHG Inventory Report). That’s about the same environmental impact as 110 million metric tons of carbon dioxide, or 23.5 million more cars on the road. If a single person were responsible for this environmental impact, it would look like one person driving an average gasoline-powered car 271 billion miles (which is like driving around the world 11 million times)!

A way to make methane from landfills useful

While this does qualify landfills as super emitters, it also presents an opportunity by way of RNG. What would have otherwise been flared or worse released into the atmosphere can instead increase revenue for landfills and also offer social gains. 

The federal government recently put a price tag on the social cost of carbon dioxide emissions of $51 per metric ton. This makes landfill methane a socially-shared burden of nearly $5.6 billion US dollars.

The solution to landfill methane measurement

In order to turn landfill gas into RNG, it’s first important to find a solution that can accurately detect and quantify the amounts of methane emitted from landfills. There is also the need to monitor these emissions on the right time scale. 

Since landfills are active living biomes, their emissions change daily with newly added waste and weather conditions. An automated solution can efficiently address this problem and benefit the environment and people living near the landfills.

Methods of landfill methane measurement

A variety of methane abatement strategies exist, but all include measurement and reporting. Some measurement technologies, like fixed monitors and OGI cameras assess emissions by making continuous measurements of fugitive methane. However, those technologies are limited because the sensors are at fixed locations and require methane to pass through them to be detected. Changing wind conditions can lead to large uncertainties when using this technology alone. 

Satellites can measure snapshots of larger emissions of methane that are then aggregated over long periods of time. However, due to the nature of low-earth orbit and costly revisit times, monitoring is infrequent and limited by the weather conditions at the sites. Additionally, spatial resolution limitations make distinguishing emissions from active burial regions and waste-in-place regions nearly impossible. Fugitive emissions originating from gas collection wells and upgrading systems will remain ambiguous for landfill operators.

Lidar mounted on aircraft measures column-integrated methane concentrations. Local wind measurements or synthetic modeled wind data help to map these concentrations to a source and convert to an emission rate. However, aircraft themselves have GHG emissions and a larger carbon footprint than UAV. They also have coarse resolution making localization difficult for optimizing well placement on landfills. Scheduling and planning flights can be another difficult obstacle faced by large aircraft monitoring solutions. 

The last method of methane measurement can characterize vertically resolved concentrations of methane in a way that is both flexible and timely. A sensor that uses Tunable Diode Laser Absorption Spectroscopy (TDLAS) has been developed by SeekOps, Inc. and is mounted on small UAVs. 

UAVs offer many advantages for methane sensing. They are lower cost, have shorter deployment times, and can fly in areas that are difficult or dangerous for manned aircraft. In addition, the data they collect is high-resolution and can be rapidly analyzed to provide actionable insights.

A summary of some of the commonly assessed pros and cons of existing technologies offering methane mass flow quantification is shown in Table 1 below.

advantages and disadvantages of different methane detection technologies
Table 1: Comparison of the advantages and disadvantages of different methane detection technologies. *Adapted from Fox et al. (2019) . ** Adaptability refers to the mobility of the technology

SeekOps’ unique solution to quantifying methane gas at landfills

SeekOps monitors active methane sites throughout the country. At a recent site they were able to identify methane emissions that could have been making the site ~$30,000 per day in RIN credits (See case study in Figure 1). In this way, accurately measuring methane used for landfill RNG products is a win-win for both the landfill and the environment.

Figure 1 shows that the opportunities for RNG (specifically from landfills) are about 2-fold compared to those from Oil & Gas

An industry that has been an early adopter in quantifying methane is oil & gas. While the potential for methane mitigation and efficient energy production from oil & gas sites is great, the potential benefit from landfill sites is larger. RNG projects from landfills will have a huge impact on sourcing our global energy needs from renewable sources instead of non-renewable fossil-fuels.

SeekOps aggregated emissions data from surveys in the RNG and Oil & Gas sectors. They found that the RNG sector is leading mass flux emissions by about 2-fold. In other words, landfills emit about twice as much methane as Oil & Gas sites, even after accounting for size differences.

methane emissions from landfills
SeekOps service at a landfill site

The scope of landfills creating renewable natural gas

Landfills can be a great way to generate biogas and RNG revenue and provide a substantial alternative to gas from fossil fuels. The EPA shows in Figure 2 that there are currently over 60 landfill RNG projects ongoing in the US. 

To this end, accurate monitoring should be the focus to maintain a close watch on lost methane. Unquantified emission rates could result in thousands of dollars of potential revenue lost each day, so special attention choosing an appropriate monitoring strategy is needed.

 

Figure 2: RNG operations for both Ag Digesters and Landfills (adapted from US EPA)

Landfills in the US emit around 4.4 million metric tons of methane (GHG Inventory, pp ES-13). If all of this methane were captured and traded in for RIN credits, this would amount to almost $10 billion USD per year. That equates to an average of $8 million USD annually to each of the 1,269 landfills currently operating in the US! Combining these savings with reduced operating costs originating from power generation from on-site RNG would greatly improve landfill operating efficiency in terms of dollars spent.

Why UAVs and highly-accurate sensors are the perfect fit for detecting landfill methane

Weather conditions and surface appearance at landfill sites can change by the minute, which makes accurately localizing methane emissions a difficult task. SeekOps uses UAVs to fly a wide array of patterns that capture the most accurate emissions for that snapshot in time(see Figure 3 for one example of this).

Figure 3: Schematic of a downwind flight pattern for quantifying landfill emissions. This illustrates a UAV “fluxplane” flight path along the entire downwind-edge of the landfill site. Repeat visits can happen as often as the landfill manager needs and as long as the wind direction is favorable.

For the TDLAS technology and the SeekOps service teams, there is no methane leak too small or too tall – as the UAV can fly vertical patterns up until methane is no longer observed. In other words landfill sites can benefit by understanding exactly the impact their operations are having on the surrounding environment while also equating that escaped methane to income by way of RIN credits. 

Landfills are large and have dynamic topology as new waste is added every day to active disposal sites. An autonomous and repeatable flight program by UAV means sites can be monitored as frequently as the operators see fit.

Accurately understanding emissions will help to make on-site biogas and RNG programs more efficient in the future. By offering a solution that optimizes measurement frequency, spatial resolution, and flexibility, SeekOps’ technology can help landfill sites quantify and capture emissions to improve their environmental footprint and operational efficiency.

Get in touch with SeekOps

SeekOps has ever-growing operations around the world and continues to add more locations across oil & gas and RNG. If you have a landfill operation that could benefit from actionable and accurate methane localization and quantification, reach out today.

seekops service operations around the world
SeekOps service operations as of Dec. 2022
iso 9001 seekops certification

SeekOps’ Management System Achieves ISO 9001:2015 Certification

Posted on | by Jordan Schultz

SeekOps Inc is pleased to announce that our management systems for the design, testing, implementation, and manufacture of spectroscopy sensors and data solutions have been certified to the ISO 9001:2015 standard.

What is ISO 9001:2015? 

The ISO 9001:2015 standard is an internationally recognized standard for quality management systems. It outlines requirements for an organization’s processes and procedures, with the goal of ensuring that customers receive consistent, high-quality products and services. 

The guidelines provide a process-oriented approach to documenting and reviewing the structure, responsibilities, and procedures required to achieve effective quality management in an organization.

SeekOps’ Path to ISO 9001:2015 Certification

At SeekOps, we are dedicated to providing our customers with the best possible spectroscopy sensors and data solutions. Achieving this certification demonstrates our commitment to quality and continuous improvement in all aspects of our operations. 

Our team has worked hard to meet the rigorous requirements of the ISO 9001:2015 standard, and we are proud to have achieved this certification. We will continue to uphold the highest standards of quality in our design, testing, implementation, and manufacturing processes to ensure that our customers receive the best possible products and services.

Connect With SeekOps To Learn More

If your business is at risk of emitting methane – at any scale – SeekOps can help implement a repeatable, reliable, and accurate measurement system that meets and exceeds global ESG standards. 

Connect with the team today to learn more by reaching out to info@seekops.com.

 

david cox seekops advisory board

SeekOps Adds Coalition for Renewable Natural Gas Co-Founder David Cox to Advisory Board

Posted on | by Jordan Schultz

AUSTIN, Texas – (Business Wire) – SeekOps Inc., a global leader in providing best-in-class sensors and actionable analytics to support both traditional and renewable energy sectors in their decarbonization efforts, today announced the addition of David Cox to their advisory board.

“It is my pleasure to welcome David to our advisory board,” said Iain Cooper, President and CEO of SeekOps. “David’s insights will greatly aid SeekOps’ long term growth into the renewable natural gas and landfill markets as we scale our operations globally. His deep understanding of the complex and rapidly evolving regulatory environment and ESG reporting frameworks will also be key to our growing engagement in the broader RNG community as we continue to incorporate the newest, field-proven innovations into our products and services.”

David Cox is a founding partner of Coalition for Renewable Natural Gas, the association of the RNG industry in North America. RNG Coalition members capture fugitive methane from waste and generate carbon-neutral and carbon-negative renewable energy, including gas, electricity, and hydrogen. Under David’s leadership, RNG Coalition, which includes many of the largest energy companies in the world, has grown to a national and increasingly international leader in the advancement of renewable natural gas. David is widely recognized for his leadership in RNG law, policy and market development. He is a graduate of the McGeorge School of Law and Westmont College. He is licensed to practice law in Texas, Oklahoma and California. 

“There has never been a more critical time to have reliable and actionable information about emissions performance,” said Cox. “SeekOps’ data-driven technology and services are mission critical to any company with a decarbonization commitment. I’m honored to join their Advisory Board and look forward to assisting their exceptionally talented team.”   

David joins Advisory Board member Dr Simon Bittleston, Chairman of the International Scientific Advisory Board for GAPSTI at Cambridge University, who joined in 2022.

Read the full press release here: Business Wire

ONE Future Awards Select Production Technology Of The Year

Posted on | by SeekOps Admin

one future awards seekops

SeekOps is proud to share that they’ve been selected as the Production Technology of the Year at the inaugural ONE Future Awards earlier this month.

The ONE Future Coalition is a group that seeks to voluntarily reduce methane emissions across the natural gas value chain. The goal of this 50-company alliance is to reduce emitted methane to 1% or less by 2025.

What are the ONE Future Awards?

The ONE Future Coalition hosted its first awards event this year in The Woodlands, TX. The event sought to recognize individuals, innovators, and technologies that have made a lasting impact on the natural gas industry and helped contribute to decreases in global methane emissions. 

The awards were categorized by advocates, research and development, and technology segmented by application. Nominations could be by individual, research group, or company.

About the Production Technology of the Year Award

The Technology of the Year award category focused on companies that provide innovative solutions or technology that has reduced methane emissions for natural gas companies. The criteria also required the nominee to currently be in field use and have proven results. 

The Technology of the Year award was split into 4 segments: Production, Midstream, Transmission & Storage, and Distribution. With this segmentation, the award was able to recognize innovations across the full value chain of natural gas.

Who Were the Technology of the Year Category Winners?

Production: SeekOps

Using an industry-leading sensor and autonomous enterprise-grade drones, SeekOps provides critical ESG emissions measurement, reporting, and verification in the oil and gas, renewable natural gas, and waste management industries. The SeekOps sensor has been independently validated with hundreds of controlled releases in peer-reviewed publications.

Midstream: ZEVAC Methane Mitigation

ZEVAC helps gas companies and operators reach their Net Zero goals more easily by delivering fuels to end-users safely and responsibly. In the past year their technology was deployed at 18 ONE Future members sites which captured 100he of gas that would have otherwise been vented.

Transmission and Storage: WeldFit ReCAP Emission Recovery System

WeldFit is company focused on products for pipelines that seeks to preserve system uptimes. Their ReCAP emissions system eliminates the need for natural gas flaring or venting during common pipeline operations. By keeping gas in the pipeline, they can reduce emissions from that pipeline by nearly 100%

Distribution: Bridger Photonics Gas Mapping LiDAR Technology

Bridger Photonics’ Gas Mapping LiDAR detects, locates, and quantifies methane emissions across the natural gas value chain via aerial imaging. Their technology scans about 2000 square miles of So Cal Gas service territory per week.

How SeekOps Reduces Emissions and Pushes Boundaries in the Natural Gas Industry

seekops seekir sensor

SeekOps proprietary TDLAS sensor is ruggedized and field-proven for industry applications, delivering actionable emissions information. While other methane monitoring technologies are stationary or deployed using satellites or planes, SeekOps uses drones to deploy its sensor – allowing for efficient asset surveys to automatically detect, localize, and quantify methane emissions. 

As federal and global mandates for independent monitoring of methane increase, SeekOps’ technology offers a scalable and standardized system that can be affordably implemented at Oil & Gas facilities globally.

Connect With SeekOps To Learn More

If your business is at risk of emitting methane – at any scale – SeekOps can help implement a repeatable, reliable, and accurate measurement system that meets and exceeds global ESG standards. 

Connect with the team today to learn more by reaching out to info@seekops.com.