The US Energy Department has approved a $189 million loan targeting methane leaks in oil and gas producing states, including Oklahoma where emissions detection towers will be located.
The loan to Houston-based Long Path Technologies will allow the deployment of 1,000 large-area remote methane monitors across Oklahoma, Texas, Kansas, Colorado, North Dakota and New Mexico. The technology allows consistently precise continuous monitoring and measure of methane emissions.
The Energy Department, in making the announcement, said the technology will provide real-time ddata for tens of thousands of oil and gas well sites, which it estimated could prevent the equivalent of at least 6 million tons of carbon dioxide a year.
The Long Path Technologies will deplay the Emissions Overwatch System across 24,000 square miles in the states and use lasers placed on 50-foot towers to monitor areas for methane leaks. Typically, flyoverws and optical gas imaging cameras are used to detect methane leaks but the EPA considers those methods “less efficient” and resulting in time lapses.
NS Energy reported, “With the capability to decrease greenhouse gas emissions by around 90% when compared to current methods, and boasting detection levels 10 times greater and 2-3 times more accuracy than point sensors, LongPath’s Active Emissions Overwatch System is poised to redefine the benchmarks for methane monitoring and measurement.”
In addition to its positive environmental effects, the LongPath Active Emissions Overwatch network project anticipates generating 35 construction jobs and 266 operations jobs at its peak. This aligns with the Department of Energy’s (DOE) dedication to fostering quality employment opportunities that adhere to robust labor standards, including the implementation of comprehensive Community Benefits Plans.
LongPath CFO Sam Cummings said: “With our rigorously accurate, real-time methane monitoring system, we are not just theorising solutions, but actively implementing a scalable and effective approach to a pressing environmental challenge.
“This is Made-in-USA technology resonates with our nation’s commitment to both environmental stewardship and technological leadership. As we scale our network across key basins, we’re poised to set a new standard for emissions detection, localization, and quantification.”
Sources: Reuters/NS Energy