In this 20th milestone edition, we cover recent methane measurement research, including two recent review papers, and work involving quantification performance, methane intensity estimates, and new quantification methods.
New Review of Measurement and Modelling
The current status of models and measurements of methane emissions from oil and gas supply chain sources is reviewed. The authors state that no single measurement technique can accurately characterize the emissions from all sources. This work recommends integrating multiple approaches for an optimized quantification approach here.
New Review of Methane Sensors
Advances in methane sensor development are reviewed from a practical perspective, including calorimetric, NDIR, laser-based, chemiresistive, electrochemical, FID, photoacoustic, and remote types. The authors recommend further progress to be considered with the interplay of four areas: materials, device, system, and deployment, stressing that the areas are interdependent here.
Field Performance of Aerial Methane Measurement
Permian data from Carbon Mapper and Bridger airborne methane detection technologies is analyzed, comparing real- world performance to controlled release testing. This work finds that under field conditions, approximately 18% of emissions above the reported MDL may not be observed. The authors report a systematic underestimation of low-magnitude emissions in field campaigns compared to controlled-release experiments here.
Performance of Handheld Methane Sensors
Two different types of handheld methane detectors, semiconductor and infrared, are tested across 200 wells in Alberta and Saskatchewan. This work found that wind speeds had little effect measurements, noting that the sensors are used very close to the source. The authors recommend the dataset and evaluations in this work can contribute to methane reduction strategies here.
Haynesville Methane Intensity Estimate
Using Bridger LiDAR data covering ~8% of facilities, a measurement- based inventory is developed for the Texas/Louisiana Haynesville basin; a methane intensity of 0.79% is reported. The authors report that final methane intensity can vary widely, depending on analytical choices. For better comparison across operators and basins, the authors recommend specific information that should be provided when reporting methane intensity here.
New Data-Driven Method of Fugitive Methane Detection
A method for detecting and quantifying facility- level methane emissions, using routine production accounting data, requiring no additional instrumentation, is presented. This mass-balance technique is based on data that operators already collect, and is described as a low- cost method for improving method monitoring in offshore environments here.
MethaneSAT Emissions Quantification
Satellite data for 2024-2025 across 34 regions is analyzed. Representing approximately 50% of global onshore oil and gas production, these satellite-based estimates exceed bottom- up estimates by ~60%. The authors report an average methane intensity of 2.9% here.
Emissions from Orphan Wells and Seeps in California
Through a review of existing studies, emissions from natural seeps and orphaned wells in southern California are examined. These emissions are estimated in this work to exceed fugitive emissions from production equipment by approximately 80 times. The authors suggest reducing hydrocarbon volumes within reservoirs to decrease seep emissions here.
