Summary
Emissions quantification is essential for turning methane leak detection into actionable data. It provides the missing “how much” operators need to prioritize repairs, support regulatory compliance, and make informed mitigation decisions. With third-party-verified accuracy and fast turnaround, Bridger’s emissions quantification enables operators to respond efficiently in the field and plan more strategically at the organizational level.
Key Takeaways
- Emissions quantification refers to the process of calculating the emission rates of methane leaks
- With emissions quantification, crews can prioritize leak mitigation
- Regulatory compliance such as the U.S. EPA’s Subpart W and OOOOb rules, as well as voluntary reporting initiatives like OGMP 2.0 rely on accurate emissions quantification
- Emissions quantification enables benchmarking and trend tracking including for emissions inventories
- Efficient LDAR programs, and data-driven decision making are empowered with emissions quantification
When it comes to methane management, detection is just the start. Without precise emissions quantification, operators are left without knowing the scale and severity of leaks. That makes it difficult to prioritize repairs, report emissions accurately, or track meaningful progress toward emissions reduction. In an industry where compliance, efficiency, and public trust are on the line, it’s emissions quantification that turns detection into data you actually can act on.
For oil and gas operators under growing pressure to reduce emissions, detection data needs to include how much methane is escaping and where it’s coming from. That’s why emissions quantification is foundational to any serious methane management strategy built on actionable emissions data.
What Is Emissions Quantification?
Emissions quantification is the process of calculating the volume or mass flow rate of methane released from a specific source, often expressed in kilograms per hour, or standard cubic feet per hour. It’s the key to data-driven decision making and driving impactful results. It answers a critical question: How big is the leak?
With this level of detail, operators can compare emissions events, triage responses, and justify mitigation investments with real environmental and operational impact in mind.
Bridger Photonics’ aerial Gas Mapping LiDAR™ (GML) quantifies emission rates by integrating methane gas concentration data with gas flow speed data in up to three spatial dimensions. Our team of analysts quantifies emission rates using protocols that involve selecting gas plume regions with minimal disturbance, to ensure the most accurate quantification estimates possible.
Our emissions quantification method has been third-party tested with an industry-leading +8.2% aggregate quantification error, providing the confidence needed for decision-making and reporting.
Here’s an example:
A midstream operator might detect three leaks across a compressor station. Without quantification, they’d be forced to dispatch crews to investigate each leak individually, without knowing which one is emitting the most methane. With quantification, they learn that one leak is emitting at 50 kg/hr—an order of magnitude higher than the others. That insight shifts priorities immediately and directs resources to where they’ll make the biggest impact faster.
Why Does Emissions Quantification Matter for Compliance?
Today’s compliance regulations demand more than simple leak detection. Programs like the U.S. EPA’s Subpart W, OOOOb, state-level rules, and international frameworks such as OGMP 2.0 all require operators to quantify emissions accurately and report reductions over time.
Emissions quantification supports compliance by helping operators:
- Complete defensible regulatory filings
- Avoid penalties tied to underreporting
- Link emissions reductions to specific repairs
- Provide verifiable progress during audits or third-party reviews
When emissions data is tied to equipment IDs and location coordinates, teams can quickly connect repairs to reductions, closing the loop between action and reporting.
How Does Emissions Quantification Improve Operational Efficiency?
With accurate emissions quantification data, operators can:
- Prioritize the largest leaks first
- Deploy crews strategically
- Reduce unnecessary site visits
- Minimize crew exposure to methane
- Capture and act on leaks while they’re still emitting
Paired with rapid turnaround, quantification ensures that field crews quickly receive the best data available to prioritize leak mitigation.
How Does Emissions Quantification Support Long-Term Strategy?
By collecting emissions quantification data consistently across time, operators can:
- Benchmark emissions performance by site, region, or equipment type
- Track methane intensity over time
- Identify recurring equipment failure patterns
- Support capital planning with emissions data
When paired with tools like root cause identification, emissions quantification helps operators uncover system-level inefficiencies and prioritize infrastructure upgrades where they’ll have the greatest impact. Mitigation planning support programs get stronger and funding can be more strategically allocated. Repairs are no longer reactive. They're part of a larger emissions reduction roadmap.
Is Emissions Quantification Part of Actionable Emissions Data?
Quantification is one part of what makes emissions data truly actionable. When combined with accurate localization, fast delivery, and structured context, it becomes the backbone of effective LDAR programs.
Bridger’s analytics packages include:
- Leak localization within ~2 meters (~6 feet)
- Quantified emission rates
- Equipment ID overlays
- GPS coordinates and visual plume imagery
- Integration-ready formats for platforms like Snowflake
Learn more about how this comes together in our post on site-specific leak maps.
From Data to Decisions
You can’t reduce what you can’t measure. And you can’t plan if your measurements are off.
At Bridger, we don’t just deliver emissions data. We work with your team to interpret results, prioritize next steps, and build methane programs that deliver measurable results over time.
Ready to see how emissions quantification can strengthen your compliance, operations, and strategy? Request a demo.