How to Engage with METEC
You may know METEC by one of its 3 focuses – testing solutions, performing field measurements, or performing advanced emissions modeling … but you likely don’t know the diversity of ways to engage with METEC … here’s the scoop:
METEC relies on diverse stakeholders — operators, solution developers, engineering service providers, and NGOs – for all our research programs. These partnerships assure realism for our research and have traditionally provided cost share for governmental funding sources. Moving forward, industry participation and funding is more critical as federal funding disappears.
Each section below presents ongoing work which may be of interest.
Industry-specific R&D
METEC often conducts research in collaboration with industry partners on topics relevant to specific companies or industry associations.
Example:
At the request of and with funding from, Devon Energy, METEC researchers are qualifying the use of handheld laser gas detectors, with the goal of having EPA approve this general class of instrument for an Alternative Test Method (ATM). To make the testing realistic, METEC needs a diversity of participants to represent what happens in the field due to variability across company protocols, skill level of users, instrument types, and weather conditions. To conduct the program 39 employees from 10 operators have spent a total of 20 days at METEC to provide the needed level of testing realism.
Engage:
Are there specific topics – large or small – where systematic modeling, testing, or field work would provide needed information?
Multi-party Working Groups or R&D
METEC researchers often serve as a neutral third party to convene R&D work at the intersection between stakeholders. These projects require trust from all parties, strict confidentiality, anonymization of results, and a collaborative research approach.
Example:
METEC recently conducted the COBE project, which assessed production facility emissions across Colorado, performing 11,000 facility scans using aerial methods. Operators provided information under a non-disclosure agreement, and results were anonymized for reporting and publication. As a result, operators received anonymized emissions data reporting from all the participating sites they could use to compare with their own data without concerns for enforcement action. The funding sponsor, CDPHE, received the data they needed to inform regulatory actions.
Past projects range from field studies to laboratory experiments to advanced model development.
Engage:
Are you wrestling with a topic where a neutral third party could contribute to advancing the underlying data and understanding? Updating emission factors? Improve voluntary or regulatory reporting?
Targeted Experiment Programs
METEC constantly performs industry-relevant research using our facilities at the METEC test site, field data collection and ‘proof of concept’ deployments in the field. Programs are based upon stakeholder interest and available funding.
Example:
Transmission operators were having issues with trace contaminate measurement at transmission transfer locations. METEC staff, in conjunction with an industry association and other CSU faculty, tested instrumentation at CSU and supervised an extended field trial of the instrumentation.
There are numerous examples of similar programs:
- Testing high flow sampler performance
- Attempt to understand of field engines have intermittent periods with higher exhaust emissions.
- Understand if a set of solutions will find leaks on a complex midstream facility
Engage:
We have specific, on-going programs … and are open to additional ideas:
- Sensing for marginal convention wells (MCWs) This translates ADED-style testing to the small well pads characteristic of older developments. METEC researchers are developing a dedicated small well pad and will conduct a long duration test – many months – of controlled releases. This may be of interest to operators and solution developers working in this space.
- Solutions for advanced pipeline leak detection. Our new pipeline testbed allows continuous operation of pipeline leaks just outside the main METEC facility. Two PHMSA projects are partially supporting non-stop testing and are open to anyone interested in advancing pipeline leak detection.
- Measurement informed inventory (MII). METEC has ‘practiced at scale’ a very robust process of blending measurements with inventories for programs like OGMP, MiQ, and some regulatory reporting programs. METEC can work with you to do your inventory reporting and plan efficient aerial, continuous monitoring, or traditional survey campaigns.
New Sensing Modalities
METEC’s extensive field work – and conversations with operators – indicates that SCADA (a.k.a. ‘parametric’) data often hints at abnormal process or equipment conditions that may eventually be picked up by downwind sensors. In collaboration with our industry advisors, METEC is launching new program to understand if SCADA data feeds can be mined to detect issues quickly and accurately.
Example:
A recent field study looked at variability of emissions from wellhead engines by continuously monitoring the composition of the exhaust emissions. Simultaneous monitoring of the engine control unit indicated that maybe … just maybe … periods with high emission would also be detectable by close, continuous, monitoring of the standard engine data feeds.
Engage:
METEC is looking for partners interested in this space. We had a robust program in this space as part of the METEC 2.0 project, which the DOE recently canceled. We plan to move ahead if there is sufficient industry interest and partners willing to data and root cause expertise. To date, our industry advisors suggest a focus on sensing stuck dump valves and monitoring ECD performance. As always, all data will be confidential. Targeted result: Algorithms operators can implement in their systems.
Emissions Modeling
In conversation with operators, we’ve learned that many operators are having trouble integrating newer measurement methods into their voluntary and commercial reporting requirements and also have struggled to train analysis and operational staff to use these new methods.
Engage:
METEC has developed tools and modeled emissions for a wide range of facilities (production, pipelines, midstream) using a wide variety of measurement methods. We can apply those to your facilities and/or assist your staff in these areas
Guiding METEC’s Facility Capabilities
The METEC team is in the midst of a major rebuild of the METEC facility. While this will proceed more slowly with the termination of METEC 2.0 funding, there are options to guide METEC toward the capabilities you need to answer your questions. This applies to both our above- and below-ground sites and subject-specific test capabilities (think ‘stuck dump valve’ or ‘acoustic sensing’).
Engage:
Let us know if there are specific test capabilities you need.
Collect Your Own Data
The METEC facility operates nearly all the time. In 2025, METEC created the passive participation model for solution companies to deploy their sensors at METEC to collect data. You install your sensors at a METEC testing location – the main facility or one of our remote testing locations – and collect data for your own use. You can’t control the gas releases … but at a reduced cost, you can collect months of operational data.
Engage:
Currently we are conducting regular controlled releases from the pipeline testbed at METEC, two facility subsets of the METEC site, and from a satellite release rig (large releases) in Western Colorado. Contact us to participate.
Follow-up note:
METEC 2.0 included deploying sensors that run continuously as we operate the METEC facility, producing large data sets including controlled releases, meteorology, etc. and sensor data. The intent was to package and publish data sets that operators and solution developers could freely use to develop better solutions. Since the METEC 2.0 project has been canceled, the primary means of acquiring this type of data will be the passive participation option.