Methane Emission Rate
Methane emission rate is a measure of how much methane gas is being released over a given period of time. It’s often expressed in kilograms per hour (kg/hr) and is a core metric in emissions monitoring, reporting, and mitigation programs.
Bridger Photonics’ Gas Mapping LiDAR™ (GML) system quantifies methane emission rates using data from aerial scans, allowing operators to prioritize leak repairs and confidently track, compare, and reduce methane emissions.
Why Methane Emission Rates Matters
A methane emission rate refers to the size of a methane leak. Knowing the emission rate, or leak size, allows oil and gas operators to understand the size of each leak and prioritize repairs. Understanding emission rates across an asset base allows operators, regulators, and investors to understand methane impact. It's the difference between saying “there’s a leak” and knowing how big the problem really is.
Methane emission rates are essential for:
- EPA compliance and Subpart OOOOb reporting
- Meeting top OGMP 2.0 reporting requirements
- ESG performance tracking and disclosure
- Supporting emissions inventories, including baselining and tracking
- Prioritizing high-volume leaks for faster reduction and reduced safety risks
- Calculating the repair impact of mitigated leaks
Knowing methane emissions rates lets operators make smarter, faster, more impactful decisions.
How Methane Emissions Rate Works (Brief Technical)
Methane emission rates can be determined using various techniques, such as through direct gas sampling, engineering calculations, mass balance tracking, and other methods.
Bridger quantifies methane 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. Emission rate results are then georeferenced to the leak’s location and included in final data deliverables.
Key Applications of Methane Detection Sensitivity in Oil & Gas
- Quantifying leaks for regulatory and voluntary reports
- Prioritizing repairs based on volume, not just presence
- Measuring the impact of mitigation efforts over time
- Demonstrating emissions reductions to stakeholders
- Validating leak repairs through before-and-after comparisons
Related: Methane Quantification, Gas Mapping LiDAR, Methane Detection Sensitivity, Probability of Detection
FAQs
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How is methane emission rate different from leak detection?
Leak detection tells you if there’s a leak. Emission rate tells you how much methane is leaking. This is critical for understanding impact and prioritizing leak reduction efforts.
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What’s a typical methane emission rate for oil and gas leaks?
Rates vary widely from under 1 kg/hr for small leaks to over 100 kg/hr for major events. Bridger’s system can quantify a broad range of emission rates.
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Is emission rate required for compliance?
Increasingly, yes. Programs like EPA Subpart OOOOb and OGMP 2.0 emphasize quantification, not just detection, making emission rate a must-have metric.
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How accurate is Bridger’s emission rate data?
Bridger’s best-in-class emission rate estimates are backed by rigorous calibration and validation by third-parties, providing high confidence in both detection location and emission rate quantification results. Bridger’s system detects down to 1 kg/hr with a 90% probability of detection for the production, midstream, and transmission sectors, and down to 0.5 kg/hr with a 90% probability of detection for gas distribution utilities.
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