Damien Weidmann 1,2 , Johnny Chu 1 , Annika Voss 1 , Patrick Yeates 1 , Arun Kannath 1 , Neil Macleod 2 , Richard Brownsword 2 1. MIRICO Ltd, Harwell Campus, Didcot, OX11 0QX, UK 2. Space Science & Technology Dept, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Harwell Campus, Didcot, OX11 0QX, UK This project has received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 764810 Gas emission monitoring instrument development and deployment for geo-energy operations Science for Clean Energy project objectives • Develop, install, and test technologies to continuously, reliably, and cost effectively monitor the environmental risks related to sub-surface geo-energy operations. • This includes building novel cutting edge instrumentation and data interpretation methodologies, especially for stray gas emissions at well sites. Gas emissions activities • Develop wide area gas emission source mapping to locate, quantify, and monitor fugitive releases at surface level of CH 4 , CO 2 , and potentially C 2 H 6 . • Develop in-situ, real time isotopic analysis systems for gas sources characterization and discrimination, starting with 13 CO 2 / 12 CO 2 . • Deploy and test novel instrumentation at the S4CE test sites: Carbfix, Iceland; Geothermal Engineering, UK; St Gallen, Switzerland. • Process instrument data towards producing relevant reporting. 1. Gas emission monitoring rationale & objectives • Multi-directional high precision open-path concentration measurements. • Use of middle infrared (2-20 µm) lasers to boost sensitivity and reduce scattering. • Use of novel proprietary dispersion spectroscopy ideal for harsh field deployment. 2. Principles of gas emission mapping Temporal evolution of integrated CH 4 concentration over 7 paths 1s resolution - ~10 ppbv precision - ~1 ppm.m/√Hz Path averaged gas concentrations in line of sight correlated to: - wind strength, direction, and turbulence, - gas source locations and mass emission rates. Knowing meteorological data, Bayesian inversion methods can be used to infer estimates of source location and emission rates as well as uncertainties. • Open-path sensing • Path-integrated measurement ≠ point sensing • No sample handling • Tuneable Mid IR Laser • High brightness, high SNR • High beam directionality • Fundamental molecular transition bands • Less scattering • Molecular Dispersion Spectroscopy • Dynamic range • Immunity to transmission change • Selectivity • Implementation • Long Wave IR Prototype (7.7 µm) • Mid Wave IR Prototype (3.3 µm) • Multi-beam for emission source mapping • From spectra to concentrations • Full physics forward 3. Optical dispersion laser open path sensor technology Sensor Retro-reflector Plume X 1000 Bending mode ν4 1367 cm -1 Stretching mode ν3 3157 cm -1 Using MOLECULAR DISPERSION: - Linear - Maintain sensitivity - >10 6 dynamic range - Information in the phase - Immune to transmission change - Maintain selectivity Demo on a foggy day First deployment test campaign in partnership with Bill Hirst and Marcella Dean, SHELL GSI, The Netherlands • Controlled releases of CH4 in the range of up to ~2kg/hr. • Simulation of diffuse sources ~2m x 2m. • Open area of ~50 x 200 m at the Chilbolton Observatory site, UK. • 19 releases of ~1 hour. . Retrieved results by SHELL software (B. Hirst, M. Dean) 4. Test deployment campaigns Open path emission mapping system • Second trials have been performed to further develop the mapping software. • First light with currently being assembled novel productized system. • New 360º 2D scanning head with automatic retroreflector registration. • New fast electronics. 6. Productized system development status Technology inherited from planetary and geochemistry instrumentation • First field deployment supported by DCO for demonstration of real-time 12C/13C measurement in fumaroles. • Objective is to offer same performances as large Isotopic Ratio Mass Spectrometers in a compact format. • Chemical versatility is traded off. • Use of ultra-fine laser spectroscopy to interrogate chemical bonds and discriminate isotopologues. 5. Laser isotopic ratio analyser technology Diffuse source made of perforated plastic membrane Sonic 3D anemometer installed within the beam fan Some of the retro-reflectors installed at the field Location 2 : 1.38 kg/hr actual Location 1: 1.35 kg/hr actual Location 3&4: 2x 1.24 kg/hr actual Location 3: 1.47 kg/hr actual Deployment at Geothermal Engineering Ltd, UK • CH 4 measurements prior to drilling operations to capture and measure the background. • Second set of measurements once the wells are in place. Top view with beam array View during measurements 360° 500m ppb Laser isotopic ratio analyser • Novel high performance multipass cell patented. • Multipass cell test underway for integration. • Ultra-miniaturize system demonstrated. • Study on biases and accuracy. Contact and info • damien@mirico .co.uk • www .mirico.co.uk • damien [email protected] • http ://www.ralspace-spectroscopy.com