PEFTEC - Abstract

Abstract Information :

Introduction - Aims and Objectives
In the face of current concerns over climate change, with oil, gas and coal power sources ever more discredited because of their impact on the environment, in favor of clean and renewable energy; such as wind and solar energy, gas operators are trying to fight back and defend their key position in determining energy policy for the future.

To achieve that goal, the gas operators mission will no longer be limited to supplying gas to end users; they will now have to focus on providing the best quality of service, at the least cost, in the safest way and with the smallest ecological footprint.

24/7 methane monitoring of natural gas sites and assets is becoming one of the key solutions for real-time methane emissions identification and repair of the natural gas waste that pollutes the atmosphere and mars the gas industry's public image.

Needless to say, speed, coverage and quality of monitoring matter in this approach that must meet economical, regulatory and ecological requirements.

Methods
Projects and initiatives are being launched worldwide for the development and deployment of continuous methane monitors in the natural gas industry. Depending on the nature and type of gas sites, monitoring tools may however differ.

The solution developed by GAZOMAT relies on more than 25 years experience of manufacturer in gas leak detection and surveying of gas assets, whilst integrating the benefits of latest advances in data communication and processing, as well as in gas measurement.

Gas network surveying is a technical process involving field data collection requiring a number of manual steps and actions by field personnel. Field technicians have to be deployed on site with gas leak detection instruments, gas leak indications need to be confirmed and survey data communicated to maintenance services who will then take leak remedial measures. When data is entered and transferred manually, the process is long, resource-intensive, costly and carries the risk of errors.

Newly available tools completely change the picture. A new generation of more powerful gas analyzers with sub-PPM sensitivity, improved measurement accuracy and quick response time can communicate wirelessly with the latest portable data collection peripherals and devices (tablets, mobile phones, etc.). GPS, GNSS navigation systems and mapping can also be integrated, providing real-time visibility on detection activity and gas leak pinpointing quality, which has not been available to date. GAZOMAT's solution integrates all these closely interacting tools within an Enterprise Application Software that drives the tools, compiles, organizes and distributes the collected information to appropriate parties. The NGMesh solution for monitoring fugitive methane emissions is a combination of traditional vehicular and pedestrian network survey tools (network survey vehicles and foot surveys using handheld detectors) and fixed sensor stations (GAZPODs) for remote monitoring of gas sites.

Monitoring data is automatically and immediately transferred to a Cloud-based server or an enterprise server via mobile phones or handheld tablets for on-site leak detections or via cellular network connection for fixed sensor stations. The enterprise system makes it possible to collect more data of higher quality (gas concentrations, GPS coordinates, pictures of the leak location, time, date, operator identification, gas analyzer functional tests, etc.). Driving the whole process, from data collection and transfer to detailed report generation for compliance with safety and environmental regulations, the system is designed as a decision-making tool to assist gas operators, as efficiently and smoothly as possible, in the leak remediation process.

Summary/Conclusions
Gas leak surveying and methane monitoring address safety and strategic challenges. The technical processes must take advantage of current technological advances to better serve the gas industry's needs. A quick overview around the world shows that a number of gas operators have already made decisive steps to adopt the new technologies available, whilst others are still recording readings on paper. The methods presented show the added-value associated to this new approach.