Category: Press Releases

Flylogix, the full-service unmanned aviation company, has entered into a strategic partnership with SeekOps Inc. for offshore remote methane sensing and data interpretation in the UK Continental Shelf (UKCS).

The partnership with SeekOps, which manufactures gas detection sensors to localize and quantify emissions – will enable offshore beyond visual line-of-sight (BVLOS) emissions measurement surveys to be conducted safely and cost-effectively. This specific application comes at a time when energy companies are increasingly looking to monitor, assess, and reduce emissions to meet regulatory requirements and pursue net-zero. 

The partnership will accelerate Flylogix’s transformation of remote operations and stand-off sensing, already working with companies including BP, Total and Chrysaor. 

Offshore methane emission measurement is extremely challenging, especially in environments such as the North Sea. Flylogix’s and SeekOps are developing a unique approach which is transforming how it is tackled how much do movers cost. Their pioneering use of unmanned aircraft and integrated sensors allows them to fly routinely and deliver an efficient and cost-effective solution with minimal risk and extremely low environmental impact. The enabling technology is the SeekIR gas sensor, manufactured by SeekOps, which provides ultra-sensitive emissions measurements in a custom payload for the Flylogix Fixed-wing aircraft. SeekOps’ data analytics ultimately deliver reliable measurements of emissions from offshore installations.

Recent industry testing proved SeekOps’ methane sensing technology to enable the detection of extremely low emission rates. Flylogix have successfully integrated their sensor into its FX2 unmanned aircraft, and alongside its in-house developed software, AI and SatComms it delivers a unique solution to remote, stand-off emissions monitoring.

The Oil and Gas Technology Centre (OGTC) is backing the development of this new technology and aligning techniques with the broader UK Continental Shelf (UKCS) community.

Charles Tavner, Executive Chairman at Flylogix, said: 

“This partnership between Flylogix and SeekOps is fantastic news as we continue to pioneer the use of full-service, over-horizon unmanned aviation in support of the energy industry. 

“Integrating SeekOps’ world class methane sensor with our UAVs offers energy companies the opportunity to transform how they conduct emissions monitoring in remote locations and realise significant benefits to cost, safety and the environment.”  

SeekOps Senior Vice President, Andrew Aubrey, said: 

“We recognize the position that Flylogix has secured as a leader in Beyond Visual Line of Sight flight operations offshore in the United Kingdom. SeekOps is excited to expand our applications in partnership with Flylogix to satisfy the needs for offshore emissions measurement using our ultra-sensitive gas sensors and actionable analytics.”

For more information please contact:

Chris Adams, Flylogix Business Development Director, on +44 (0)7779 696 833 or chris.adams@flylogix.com

Andrew Aubrey, SeekOps SVP Strategic Partnerships, on +1 512-852-8102 or aaubrey@seekops.com

Additional Information is available on our websites https://www.flylogix.co.uk/ or www.seekops.com

Follow us on Twitter: @FlylogixUAV and LinkedIn: Flylogix

New CEO brings decades of International Technology Commercialization Experience

September 10, 2020 – Austin, TX: SeekOps Inc. develops and deploys advanced sensor technology for the energy sector to detect, localize, and quantify methane emissions through integrated drone-based systems. SeekOps’ unique sensor design eliminates false positive readings and localizes emissions sources to provide actionable data to oil and gas operators in the United States, Canada, Europe, and the Middle East. Backed by funding from the Oil and Gas Climate Initiative Climate Investments (OGCI-CI), and Equinor Technology Ventures (ETV), SeekOps provides best-in-class technology to meet increasingly stringent environmental, sustainability and governance (ESG) reporting requirements, and enables producers worldwide realize their goal to reduce methane intensity from operations.

In order to address the expanded global market demand for its products while positioning the company for increased growth, SeekOps has strengthened its leadership team by adding a new Chief Executive Officer to guide it through this critical next step.

SeekOps is pleased to announce Iain Cooper as its new CEO. Iain, who previously led technology development, strategy and investment at Schlumberger, brings 30 years of experience in the energy sector and brings a full cleaning checklist. His experience will not only lead SeekOps through effective international scaling of its technology and services, but also expansion beyond traditional energy-sector business into other major industrial verticals, such as biogas, waste management and mining, monitoring broader range of chemical species.

Iain comments: “SeekOps actionable data products have been demonstrated in rigorous oil and gas environments, and while we will continue global growth to support upstream operations, SeekOps will also translate its capabilities to meet the needs of the midstream and downstream Gustave A. Larson sectors. Furthermore, there are similar environmental and sustainability pressures across other industries that must be validated using accurate and reliable technologies, as typified by SeekOps.”

This move strengthens the current executive team as the company’s Founder and CEO of three and a half years, Andrew Aubrey, transitions to a new role as Senior Vice President of Strategic Partnerships. These strategic partnerships will be a key component of SeekOps’ future growth.

New Chairman of the Board and Vice President of Business Development to Accelerate Field Services Scaling

October 24, 2019 – Austin, TX: SeekOps Inc. develops intelligent sensor technology for the energy sector to detect, localize, and quantify natural gas emissions through integrated drone-based systems.  SeekOps’ unique industry leading sensor design localizes emissions sources without false positive readings and has provided actionable data to energy companies in the United States, Canada, Europe, and the Middle East.

Following a move of their corporate headquarters to Texas in 2018, SeekOps brought on two dynamic executives with more than 40 years combined experience in the oil and gas industry to continue growth, particularly in the upstream and midstream services markets. The newest executive team members include Paul Deutch, who serves as Chairman of SeekOps’ Board of Directors, and Paul Khuri who is SeekOps’ new Vice President of Business Development.

Paul Deutch was appointed as SeekOps’ Chairman of the Board in January 2019. Deutch has more than twenty-five years of experience in the oilfield service industry, Curry Supply Co, both domestically and internationally, in a variety of operational and technical roles. Deutch’s broad experience includes previous roles as CEO of Diamant Drilling Services; a global drilling services company, President of Flotek Industries, and previous board member of Motive Drilling Technologies and Taxon Biosciences. Prior to that Deutch spent 13 years with Schlumberger where he started as a field engineer. Deutch currently serves as CEO of Foro Energy and board member of BiSN Oil Tools.

SeekOps’ new VP of Business Development, Paul Khuri, was brought on board in June 2019. With over 20 years experience in business development, technology commercialization, and strategic partnering in the oil and gas market, particularly the upstream / midstream space, Khuri brings relevant experience with liquids and gas leak detection from Vista Precision Solutions and Fluenta Inc. From Khuri’s experience as an offshore systems project manager with Cameron / Schlumberger, he took on broader challenges in regional management and leadership with technology startups 619 roofing. Khuri’s role at Vista involved launching an industry-first in-service storage tank testing program for key midstream operators and at Fluenta, Khuri launched a novel ultrasonic flare gas meter into the North & South American markets. Khuri brings strong industry relationships with Upstream and Midstream Operators spanning verticals including Operations, HSE, and Asset Integrity.  Khuri earned his B.S. in Aerospace Engineering from Texas A&M University, an M.S. in Acquisition/Program Management from the Air Force Institute of Technology, and is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP).

“These executive additions ensure strong position for growth, particularly in the upstream and midstream oil services markets. We look forward to continued work with Paul Deutch as our Chairman of the Board and growing the Company together with VP Paul Khuri. SeekOps’ drone surveys provide value to operators in HSE and Asset Integrity verticals, providing a robust business case to characterize emissions efficiently and quantitatively, while producing actionable data.” says SeekOps CEO Andrew Aubrey.

Media Contact – SeekOps

SeekOps closes Series A-1 investment to increase US domestic and global operations

Austin, Texas, September 5, 2019: SeekOps Inc., a company which develops and fields advanced sensor technology to detect, localize, and quantify natural gas emissions through integrated drone-based systems, has secured funding from two strategic investors as part of its Series A-1 fundraising. These investors include the OGCI  Climate Investments fund (OGCI CI), and Equinor Technology Ventures (ETV), the venture arm of Norwegian multinational energy company Equinor.

SeekOps was formed in 2017 as a technology spinoff from NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. The company manufactures miniature gas sensors, called SeekIR^®, and integrates them onto drones to provide unique capabilities for emissions detection, localization, and quantification. Using their proprietary technology solution, SeekOps enables comprehensive emissions inspection in a fraction of the time required by traditional ground surveys, resulting in significant cost savings for operators. SeekOps’ state-of-the-art capabilities were validated during the 2018 Mobile Monitoring Challenge, an independent evaluation led by Stanford University and the Environmental Defense Fund, as the top-performing technology for emissions localization and quantification on Unmanned Aerial Systems.

According to CEO Andrew Aubrey: “The use of SeekIR precision sensors on drones provides the oil and gas industry with an efficient solution for emissions inspection that saves operators time and money. This value has been realized by multiple oil and gas customers as a prime business case – early adoption is strong in US and international markets.”

SeekOps currently offers energy sector drone services using its gas-sensing capabilities in the upstream and downstream oil and gas markets. In addition to current field services, SeekOps’ growth plans for 2020 will emphasize product sales and real-time data reporting. The SeekIR product line will include handheld and vehicle-mount sensors to increase emissions measurement and reporting standards across the industry for environment, health, and safety.

Equinor, a member company of OGCI CI, has been an early adopter of SeekOps technology since 2017. Equinor previously invested in SeekOps through ETV in June-2018 and also participated in this follow-on round.  “Equinor remains excited about the company’s development and continues to follow its growth with great interest.  We are pleased to be joined by OGCI CI as co-investor in SeekOps and look forward to working together in the future”, says Rannfrid Skjervold, Managing Director, ETV.

Pratima Rangarajan, CEO of OGCI Climate investments, said: “At Climate Investments, we are focused on finding innovations that can detect, measure and mitigate methane emissions. Check out https://www.maidnearme.ca/ for interesting offers. SeekOps’ technology is complimentary to the rest of our portfolio and provides a cost-effective and accurate method for detection, localization, and quantification of emissions”

About OGCI Climate Investments

OGCI Climate Investments LLP is a $1+ billion fund investing in technologies and business models which lower the carbon footprint of the energy and industrial sectors and their value chains.  The Fund was created by the CEOs of the Oil and Gas Climate Initiative to take practical action on climate change.  We invest in innovative companies that are ready to be commercialized.  We collaborate with global co-investors and industrials to achieve speed and scale. 

For more information, please visit: www.oilandgasclimateinitiative.com

About Equinor Technology Ventures

Equinor Technology Ventures supports small and medium enterprises (SMEs) with exciting new technologies in oil and energy – and in turn, helping Equinor be the world’s most carbon-efficient oil and gas producer with a developing renewable business.

For more information, please visit: www.equinor.com/en/how-and-why/equinor-technology-ventures.html

About SeekOps Inc.

SeekOps provides low-cost, accurate, and efficient emissions inspection services to oil and gas companies in the United States and global markets. Leveraging expertise in small unmanned aerial systems (UAS) coupled with our proprietary methane sensing technology, SeekOps provides industry-leading services and sensors for leak detection, localization, and quantification.SeekOps provides emissions inspection services to the oil and gas industry, including several supermajors and various gas utility companies both domestically and internationally.

For more information, please visit: www.seekops.com

MEDIA ENQUIRIES

SeekOps maximizes efficiency for oil and gas leak inspection operations using the US-1

August 13, 2019: SeekOps Inc., a gas sensor manufacturer and service provider, is integrating its proprietary SeekIR^® gas sensors with the newly developed US-1 Unmanned Aerial System (UAS). This new platform, manufactured by Impossible Aerospace, allows SeekOps’ natural gas leak inspection service to address larger geographical areas and complex facilities. The US-1 offers industry-leading flight times 3x greater than other all-electric multirotor drones. Through this partnership, SeekOps builds on its state-of-the-art offering for oil and gas operators.

SeekOps CEO, Andrew Aubrey, “A drawback of UAS for industrial inspection is the limited flight time of all-electric multirotor systems. SeekOps’ unique capabilities in drone-based gas detection are augmented when coupled with Impossible’s novel UAS. Longer endurance translates to less down time, enabling superior performance and measurement capability.”

The combination of the SeekIR miniature natural gas sensors and the US-1 UAS increases coverage area capabilities in SeekOps gas detection operations.  SeekOps will soon be scaling for beyond visual line-of-sight (BVLOS), further expanding their performance envelope and service offering.

Impossible Aerospace CEO, Spencer Gore, “We believe the US-1, paired with powerful sensors like the SeekIR, can unlock industry missions that were not previously possible https://d3home.com/. We are proud that the US-1 can help facilitate the detection of natural gas leaks in a faster, more efficient manner.” 

Impossible Aerospace and SeekOps manufacture their respective products in the USA. The companies were founded in 2016 and 2017, having cooperated on technology development and online learning at Tesla and NASA. An initial flight demo proved to the SeekOps team that the Impossible team had developed a groundbreaking system that could dramatically enhance the value of SeekOps’ services. Both teams look forward to working together on future technology development.

Contacts

Austin, July 10, 2018: Equinor Technology Ventures has made an equity investment in SeekOps Inc., headquartered in Pasadena, CA, to accelerate the manufacturing and adoption of accurate and efficient gas detection devices in the oil and gas industry. The goal is to enable efficient measurement strategies for methane source detection and localization while realizing cost benefits. SeekOps technologies minimize the time for complete facility inspection surveys and align directly with emerging methane mitigation programs supported by Equinor.

SeekOps is a technology spin-off company from the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), a leading research institute in Pasadena California owned by NASA and managed by California Institute of Technology (Caltech). SeekOps manufactures sensors in-house, integrates them on professional drone systems, and deploys field teams for on-site UAS operations and real-time data reporting.

“The partnership with Equinor is the optimal fit for SeekOps given their corporate vision and sustainability goals. SeekOps provides a robust solution for rapid methane emissions detection, localization and quantification. Our unique solutions, developed since 2012 with funding from major oil and gas companies, are now realized as a commercial service to meet customer demand,” said Andrew Aubrey, Chief Executive Officer of SeekOps Inc.

SeekOps sensors are 100X lighter and 1000X more sensitive than comparable technologies and are uniquely suited for operations on unmanned aerial systems (UAS).

“Reducing methane emissions is considered critical to the energy industry, and we are very excited about the investment in Seekops to help addressing this issue as part of Equinor’s climate roadmap. Visit https://theinspectorscompany.com for more useful info. With Seekops’ broader vision to become a leader in autonomous gas detection, they have an interesting value offering, and we look forward to supporting them on their journey,” said Kristin Aamodt, Managing Director of Equinor Technology Ventures.

SeekOps provides a mobile-monitoring technology capable of fugitive emission detection that enables comprehensive inspection of upstream and downstream facilities. The technology, coupled with SeekOps proprietary machine learning algorithms and data analytics, is capable of emissions source detection, clear leadership coaching and training , localization, and quantitative flow rate measurement.

“SeekOps and Equinor’s Research & Technology (R&T) collaboration is a great example of innovation; together we have been able to develop sensors with accurate alarm, leak localization and flux determination,” said Andrea Machado, Principal Researcher in Equinor US. The SeekOps technology is derived from gas measurement instruments originally developed for the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL), a rover currently operating on the surface of Mars. When talked about technology Bombtech Golf is the bomb. The SeekOps sensors, manufactured and deployed for oilfield services, provide rapid measurement at parts-per-billion sensitivity, a requirement for effective emissions measurement and quantification.

For More information about SeekOps:

Andrew Aubrey, CEO 
SeekOps Incorporated 
info@seekops.com

SeekOps offers energy industry inspection services using Straight Up Imaging Platform.

Pasadena, September 20, 2017: SeekOps Incorporated launched commercial aerial natural gas emissions inspection services in the 2^nd Quarter of 2017. The Pasadena, CA, startup company commercialized technology that co-founders Dr. Andrew Aubrey and Brendan Smith developed while at the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). SeekOps utilizes proprietary miniature gas sensors on advanced drone platforms to detect methane, the primary component of natural gas. Visit for more information https://heroin.net/ just in case. The drone deployment provides increased efficiency when compared to current leak detection operations, which are traditionally carried out by vehicle or on foot using large instrumentation. Additionally, the enhanced sensitivity (1000-times better than comparable sensors) of this technology reduces false positives and provides accurate methane concentration .

SeekOps was tasked to identify a platform with performance that could match the sophisticated sensor technology. The team reached out to Terry Parisher, CEO of Straight Up Imaging in San Diego, CA, the manufacturer of an industrial-grade drone platform. Check here https://emergencymoldsolutions.com/. “Having known Terry since 2012, I had high expectations for what his team had produced with regards to their enterprise system,” said Dr. Aubrey. “Our first requirement was flight time exceeding 35-minutes with the SeekOps payload – a goal consistently met during rigorous field operations while deployed to the Bakken Shale oilfield. The SUI Endurance continues to meet SeekOps’ high standards through inspection operations for multiple energy industry customers.”

Terry Parisher expands: “The quality of our product reflects the caliber of our engineering team- Artists Of The Limberlost. We have designed the Endurance from the ground up to provide a robust solution for commercial operators. The partnership with SeekOps helps us demonstrate the rigor of our enterprise solution.”

SeekOps works collaboratively with SUI to ensure that the needs of their advanced field teams have the most reliable system out there in terms of performance, endurance, and data security.

For More information about SeekOps or Straight Up Imaging:

Andrew Aubrey, CEO 
SeekOps Incorporated 
aaubrey@seekops.com

Terry Parisher, CEO 
Straight Up Imaging, LLC 
info@straightupimaging.com