SPE Aberdeen Net Zero Committee Presents:

The Application of Miniaturised Methane Sensors and Drone Technology for Accurate Identification and Quantification of Emissions

Peter Evans, bp

Abstract: The accurate detection, location and quantification of methane emissions is critical if the oil and gas industry is to fulfil its part in reducing the impact of methane as a greenhouse gas. This is why measurement features prominently in initiatives such as the Oil and Gas Methane Partnership 2.0 (OGMP2.0), the COP26 Methane Pledge, company goals for net zero emissions and a new breed of emergent legislation.

In this presentation, Peter Evans will explore the role that miniaturised TDLAS methane spectrometers can play in measuring methane. Using examples from onshore gas processing plants and offshore oil production he will demonstrate how the instrument can be deployed using different drone and autonomous aircraft to provide insights ranging from equipment level to entire facilities.

Dr Peter Evans is the bp Senior Product Owner for Methane Measurement and Reduction. His role is to identify, test and support deployment of the technology that underpins bp’s Aim 4 – to install methane measurement on all of its major oil and gas processing sites by 2023, publish the data, and then drive a 50% reduction in methane intensity of its operations. This work is increasingly turning to the use of drones to provide both the access requirements needed to identify specific sources of methane and the range needed to quantify facility-level emissions, including offshore.

Peter holds a PhD in geochemistry and an MBA in technology management. He joined bp 10 years ago and has worked on a range of environmental technology challenges, including water quality, marine acoustics and greenhouse gases. Before joining bp he was a senior scientist for the UKs chemical metrology programme and helped establish the Energy Futures Lab at Imperial College London.

Michael Sutcliffe is the SeekOps Business Development Director for Europe, based in the UK. Since joining SeekOps in early 2021, his focus has been on initiating, growing and managing opportunities for methane emissions detection and quantification services across the oil and gas, utility and biogas industries. Michael is committed to the energy transition and ensuring that new technology provides real value and benefits to our clients. Previously he had over 30 years’ experience in the oil and gas industry in offshore and onshore operations, service delivery, business development and new technology implementation.