UAV gas monitoring system for the energy sector

Completed

Fossil Fuels: Oil Gas and Coal(Oil and Gas, Other oil and gas)
Fossil Fuels: Oil Gas and Coal(Oil and Gas, Refining, transport and storage of oil and gas)

Applied Research and Development

PHYSICAL SCIENCES AND MATHEMATICS (Chemistry)
ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY (General Engineering and Mineral & Mining Engineering)

Not Cross-cutting
Sociological economical and environmental impact of energy (Environmental dimensions)

Project Contact
NERC British Geological Survey

Feasibility Study

Innovate UK

01 November 2015

31 October 2016

12 months

£245,560

East Midlands

Competition Call: 1411_FS_ENE_GEN_ENCATES2 - Energy Catalyst Rnd 2 - (FS). Activity Energy Catalyst Rnd 2 - (FS)

Project Contact, NERC British Geological Survey

Project Contact, QuestUAV

The energy industry produces, transports and uses large volumes of gases, including methane and carbon dioxide. It is important that such gases do not accidentally leak from production facilities, pipelines and stores, but these cover large areas and it is very challenging to monitor them effectively with current technology. The British Geological Survey and QuestUAV are meeting this challenge by developing a cost-effective small unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) gas detection system that trained operators can take to sites for rapid monitoring. These will fill the market gap between time-consuming surface monitoring and costly conventional manned aircraft and will identify areas of leaks or fugitive emissions, that can then be investigated further and, where necessary, rectified. Detecting methane will be the main focus of the work. We will modify the best small methane detectors, and develop new ways to combine the flight data and gas analyses in order to produce 2D and 3D maps of gas concentration. To demonstrate high confidence in the results, we will also thoroughly test the accuracy of the measurements using more standard (though slower) methods.The energy industry produces, transports and uses large volumes of gases, including methane and carbon dioxide. It is important that such gases do not accidentally leak from production facilities, pipelines and stores, but these cover large areas and it is very challenging to monitor them effectively with current technology. The British Geological Survey and QuestUAV are meeting this challenge by developing a cost-effective small unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) gas detection system that trained operators can take to sites for rapid monitoring. These will fill the market gap between time-consuming surface monitoring and costly conventional manned aircraft and will identify areas of leaks or fugitive emissions, that can then be investigated further and, where necessary, rectified. Detecting methane will be the main focus of the work. We will modify the best small methane detectors, and develop new ways to combine the flight data and gas analyses in order to produce 2D and 3D maps of gas concentration. To demonstrate high confidence in the results, we will also thoroughly test the accuracy of the measurements using more standard (though slower) methods.

13/02/18