A New Approach to Detect and Monitor Methane Emissions in Oil and Gas Industry
This research seeks to address the limitations of existing methane sensing technologies by developing a cost-effective and scalable framework that integrates low-cost sensors with volunteered geographic information to improve methane emission detection and monitoring in the oil and gas industry.
Objective
The objective of this research is to evaluate the potential of low-cost sensors and Volunteered Geographic Information (VGI) methodologies for effective methane emission monitoring. This includes assessing the accuracy, reliability, and scalability of such sensors in detecting, quantifying, and localizing methane emissions, as well as understanding how the integration of fieldworker contributions and sensor data can enhance community-driven environmental sensing efforts.
Description
This research seeks to address the limitations of existing methane sensing technologies by developing a cost-effective and scalable framework that integrates low-cost sensors with VVGI approaches. The study focuses on assessing the effectiveness of these sensors in detecting, quantifying, and localizing methane emissions while confirming the absence of emissions in targeted areas. By combining sensor data with contributions from fieldworkers, a GIS (Geographical Information System) -based VGI system is designed and implemented to collect, process, and analyze methane emission data. The proposed VGI framework employs an opportunistic sensing approach, enabling broader spatial-temporal coverage at reduced costs compared to traditional methods. This innovative solution has the potential to significantly enhance methane monitoring efforts, particularly within the oil and gas sector, addressing critical environmental and operational challenges.
Project Details
Collaborator(s): Sina Kiaei, Dr. Zahra Bagheriashena, Dr. Steve Liang
Date: 2024-Ongoing