Abstract Description: Leak detection and quantification are important for managing the economic costs, environmental impacts, and safety risks associated with leaks. Accurate leak detection and measurement provide important data for continuous improvement and analyzing trends.
We present a unique approach that leverages concentration measurements from continuous air monitoring systems to pinpoint leak locations and estimate emission rates. By analyzing patterns in air concentration measurements combined with wind speed and direction data, we can detect, locate, and quantify both onsite and offsite emission sources in near real-time for any compound, providing actionable insights to enhance site operations.
This approach was recently tested through the Alberta Methane Emissions Program (AMEP), which included third-party controlled release testing (CRT) performed at Carbon Management Canada’s Newell County Facility near Brooks, Alberta. Testing was conducted over five weeks in the Spring/Summer of 2024 to evaluate the approach’s performance under near real-world conditions with independent validation of the results performed by C-FER Technologies (1999). This testing provided an opportunity to gain insights into the effect of meteorological conditions and emission intermittency on methane detection and quantification capabilities.
We will share results of this testing and third-party assessment including alarm times, identified leak locations, and calculated emission rates in comparison to the actual timing, location, and leak emission rates. Additionally, we will discuss potential applications of this approach for greenhouse gas, odour, and community monitoring programs. This novel analysis procedure demonstrates that powerful information can be found in continuously collected concentration data and highlights its potential as part of emissions monitoring and leak detection programs across diverse industries.
