Methane Plume

A methane plume is a cloud of methane gas that is invisible to the human eye, but can be mapped using specialized technology such as atmospheric LiDAR to create a visible representation of the plume. The methane plume imagery reveals the size of the plume and distribution of the methane gas present in the air after being released from a source. A methane plume map, or image, shows the shape, size, and direction of the gas as it disperses, based on wind and other atmospheric conditions.

Bridger Photonics’ Gas Mapping LiDAR® (GML) creates high-resolution methane plume images that help oil and natural gas operators quickly understand the locations and sizes of methane leaks.

Why Do Methane Plumes Matter?

Methane plumes that are located in an area near high risk zones, such a near infrastructure or densely populated areas can pose a hazard. Methane plume imagery allows insight into the location and extent of the plume so repair crews can safely address the methane leak. While raw detection data can confirm that methane is present, a visual plume image shows:

• Exactly where methane is in the air
• The manner in which it’s dispersing over time and space
• Where the likely source of the leak is

Using the plume map and associated calculations, it’s possible to quantify how large the emission source is.

Methane plume maps are especially useful for field teams who need to verify leaks, prioritize repairs, and inform repair crews of the location and extent of a leak before heading to the site. They also support QA/QC, regulatory documentation, and communication with stakeholders.

How Do Methane Plumes Work? (Brief Technical)

While methane plumes are not visible to the human eye, methane plume maps are generated by remote sensing systems like Bridger’s Gas Mapping LiDAR and visualize the methane distribution in the air. 

During an aerial LiDAR scanning flight to map methane plumes:

• The sensor scans for path-integrated methane concentrations continuously from the aircraft
• Path-integrated methane concentrations are collected, and mapped to create a crisp gas plume image, which can be overlaid on aerial imagery or other GIS data
• The result is a color-coded visualization showing the location and shape of the methane plume and the concentrations detected

Methane plume images are often paired with quantified emission rates from the plume source, and GPS coordinates of the source equipment to give operators a full picture of the leak’s severity and location. This allows repair crews to go straight to the source as safely as possible.

Key Applications in Oil and Gas

• Identifying, visualizing, verifying, and investigating methane leak locations
• Supporting repair crews with plume visuals and equipment-level leak sources
• Improving communication across teams (operations, EHS, compliance)
• Documenting leak response actions for audits or reporting

Related: Leak Localization Error, Gas Mapping LiDAR, Methane Quantification, Emission Rate, Aerial Methane Detection

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