Performance Evaluation of Survey Solutions in Detecting and Localizing Source-Level Emissions Using a Single-Blind Controlled Testing Protocol

Standardized controlled testing of emerging methane detection
solutions
is a critical step in demonstrating emissions mitigation equivalence
between emerging solutions and existing regulatory-approved leak detection
and repair methods, such as ground-based optical gas imaging (OGI)
camera surveys, in the United States and Canada. In this study, 12
solutionsincluding four hand-held OGI cameras, hand-held NextGen
solutions, and mobile solutions (automobile- and drone-based)were
evaluated using a single-blind controlled testing protocol at an outdoor
facility designed to simulate emissions from a simplified onshore
North American oil and gas production facility. Three solutions were
retested 3 to 12 months after the initial assessment using the same
protocol and facility to evaluate how performance changed over time.
Results indicated that hand-held OGI cameras generally achieved better
emission source localization accuracy as well as lower 90% probability
of detection and false positive fraction compared to other solution
categories. The false negative fractions of OGI cameras were comparable
to those of hand-held NextGen solutions but generally lower than those
of mobile solutions, which exhibited shorter survey durations relative
to other categories of hand-held solutions. The performance of two
of three solutions improved with repeat testing, highlighting the
potential benefit of regular, comprehensive testing for the development
of solutions. Overall, the study findings suggest that while several
emerging survey solutions showed promising detection and localization
capabilities, hand-held OGI cameras demonstrated higher efficacy in
identifying and accurately localizing small emission sources.