METEC 2.0 Overview
What Is METEC 2.0?
METEC 2.0 is a multi-pronged effort to improve the characterization of leak detection and quantification (LDAQ) solutions. Well-characterized solutions are critical for oil and gas (O&G) operators to use LDAQ solutions for monitoring their emissions, reporting to voluntary or regulatory programs and to implement effective emissions mitigation programs.
METEC 2.0’s formal name is Capabilities Enhancement for Methane Emissions Technology Evaluation Center (METEC) to Decarbonize Natural Gas Resources.
Key components of METEC 2.0
- Updating the METEC facility to more closely mimic current oil and natural gas facilities. METEC is a primary location for ‘controlled release testing’—releasing gas from equipment in a highly realistic, but completely controlled, environment. A controlled environment allows hundreds of experiments to be conducted a reasonable test program—METEC Testing Programs—something that’s hard to accomplish in field testing.
- Creating mobile controlled release capabilities to support METEC-like testing on other facility types and in other geographic areas. LDAQ solutions need to be tested across a diversity of facility sizes, weather conditions, and facility complexity. An early target for this capability will be midstream facilities in gas gathering, transmission, and storage.
- Addressing several key LDAQ niches that need special attention such as offshore platform emissions and characterizing facility-scale methane satellites.
- METEC has always performed a dual role of both testing and encouraging LDAQ solution development. This work continues with METEC 2.0 funding for testing programs that use METEC 2.0’s diverse testing capability.
- When testing at any location, METEC 2.0 includes collection of extensive meteorological and gas concentration data to help O&G operators and solution developers improve their technologies.
- Hydrogen-natural gas blends may soon be added to U.S. pipelines. METEC 2.0 includes initial steps to extend METEC’s ability into testing and development for these ‘hyblend’ gas mixes.
Design and build of the first autonomous mobile methane measurement unit (AMMUs)
The purpose of each AMMMU is to provide a mobile platform for methane and environmental measurement that can be used to generate datasets that will drive machine learning and provide data for validating models. The AMMMUs will be deployed at METEC and then moved to the more aerodynamically complex field sites when available.
We need operator, agency and solution developer input to define our offshore testing capabilities.
Contact Stuart Riddick ([email protected]) to participate in this design process including the prioritization of facility types, locations, and testing characteristics.
The METEC Group is finalizing it’s methane satellite testing program.
Design workshops/webinars are being held with satellite developers, operators, and other interested parties. Input is particularly urgent given recent launch of several new methane satellites in 2024. We are also looking to partner with operators interested in hosting a test location.
Contact Ezra Levin ([email protected]) to join these discussions.
Read More About Testing Satellites Using Midstream Facilities
Advancing Development of Emissions Detection (ADED) currently implements two comprehensive protocols to accelerate the adoption of natural gas leak detection and quantification (LDAQ) solutions by natural gas operators, and their approval by cognizant regulatory authorities. First implemented in 2021, the ADED Team has begun evaluating and revising the ADED protocols for continuous monitoring and survey solutions. The focus of this process is to evaluate the existing protocols as implemented and identify gaps or operational implementations that now exist.
Engage: An initial meeting with the Protocol Development Committee in November 2023, started the revision efforts and was followed by an operator’s session at The Environmental Partnership Annual Meeting in December 2023. An in-person session for solution and technology developers to provide their input was held in February 2024. More in-person meetings and virtual sessions will be hosted in 2024.
Learn more about the ADED Protocols and the work of the committee.
For more information: https://metec.colostate.edu/aded/ or contact METEC at [email protected]
The METEC Industry Advisory Board (IAB) is comprised of leading operators in the natural gas industry. The Board meets regularly with the METEC Group to advise and provide guidance on industry trends.
The METEC Group is seeking additional members to participate on the IAB; consider joining.
