Wireline Issue 52 Winter 2021

flights in 2019 demonstrated a detection rate of 40kg/ hr which, while impressive, was still nearly double the 26kg average. “In discussion with operators, it was clear we’d need to get down to more like 10kg/hr for this to be really valuable technology that could be deployed at scale,” Chris continues. This sawsignificant work fromSeekOps tohelp reduce signal-to-noise in its sensor, as well as refinements from Flylogix to dampen vibrations from the airframe. The teams also worked on new and better algorithms to help process the collected data. Meanwhile, the Net Zero Technology Centre also helped usher in new project partners to test flights, winning the backing of operators including Shell, Equinor, TotalEnergies, TAQA and Harbour Energy. Evidently, this work has paid off. “We were delighted that when we trialled it this year the lower detection rate limit was down to 2.5kg/hr, so we are an order of magnitude less than the average UKCS platform,” Chris says. “In terms of delivering value back to an operator deploying the technology that becomes a really critical factor.” The future of monitoring Having spent most of the latter half of 2020 working in the lab, spring 2021 saw the improved system back flying again, this time across the entire UKCS and covering multiple locations, asset types, and various distances from shore. Following each of these flights, SeekOps and Flylogix sit down with each operator to discuss the results, compare the actual emissions profiles with the estimates and consider potential courses of action

then allows SeekOps to calculate an overall emission rate from the asset. Clients can view and access this information from within Flylogix’s proprietary software, called Skyspace, which forms the basis of its command and control system. It also supports secure access for customers, meaning they can login to view operations and monitor aircraft and data collection in real time. This process was honed throughout Flylogix’s 2019 flights with BP, including flights over different asset types like FPSOs. While it proved that the technology was viable, it highlighted that there was a gap between the current state of technology and a final service that could be offered to the industry at scale. “BP were quite astute and they recognised that real success meant building an industry solution, not a BP solution. That is a noteworthy point, as it lays the foundations for the projects that came after that,” Chris says. This spurred further work to refine the technical elements of the system throughout 2020, focused on two main areas. The first was to ensure the aircraft had enough range and power to reach all North Sea assets with enough fuel to allow an hour or so of data collection, which Chris says involved work on aerodynamics and satellite communications. The second was the detection threshold. Average methane emissions reported to the UK Environmental and Emissions Monitoring System (EEMS) in 2019 stood at around 26 kilogrammes per hour, per asset. Today’s best satellites – the other potential route for emissions measurement – have a detection range of about 100kg/ hr (based on imaging of 50 square miles), making them less useful for monitoring individual assets. Flylogix

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