GasOptics - Remote Gas Leak Detection Systems

GasOptics develops and manufactures a family of Gas Vision Systems (GVSs) for remote gas leak detection, fire detection and monitoring of surface temperature using scanning cameras based on advanced gas-correlation technology.

We focus on our customers to offer:

• System engineering assistance
• Onshore and offshore training
• Onshore and offshore service

Statoil is the majority owner of GasOptics.

METHANE LEAK DETECTION

Because of its advanced passive technology and real-time scanning cameras, a GasOptics GVS detects many more methane leaks than any other gas detection currently on the market for use in the gas and oil industry.

Moreover, the payback of a GVS can be rapidly achieved by avoiding just one unplanned process shutdown. The GVS detects and visualizes methane up to a range of 250m.

REMOTE GAS DETECTION SYSTEMS

The GVS represents an outstanding value added technology for improved regularity, risk limitation and management through superior gas detection features, including:

• Display and identity of a gas leak immediately in color on screen
• Allowing flow pattern and concentration to be followed in real time
• Fire detection available and real-time monitoring of equipment surface / working temperature available in the same camera system
• Robust and explosion-proof cameras for tough environments
• Cost-effective and time-saving detection and monitoring
• CCTV functionality for general area monitoring

GAS AND FIRE DETECTION AND TEMPERATURE MONITORING

As this real-time camera system is able to combine gas detection, fire detection and equipment surface temperature monitoring displayed on screen in the process control room, it becomes a very powerful instrument for decision-makers to reduce and manage risk and achieve optimal production regularity.

RISK LIMITATION THROUGH REMOTE METHANE DETECTION

Seeing a potentially dangerous situation at an early stage enables one to make the right decisions needed to limit and manage risk. Because our GVS turns an invisible gas flow into a visible real-time colour image, its source can be quickly pinpointed and evaluated. Thus the risks of explosion, fire, personal injury, production loss and environmental harm are minimised in a cost-effective and time-saving way.

GAS COMPUTATION AND VISUAL IMAGING

A typical colour-coded visual image shows the gas as different areas of concentration generated by the gas computation system overlaid on the visual image recorded by the visual camera module. Relevant thermographic video clips can be recorded and saved for later evaluation.

One or more scanning GVS units, which have explosion protection certificates, can be located at installations such as onshore gas processing plants, offshore production platforms, and LNG ships and terminals.

INSTALLATION AT KÅRSTØ GAS PROCESSING PLANT

The first installation of our GVS was at the Kårstø gas processing plant near Haugesund in Norway in November 2004. The GVS was approved in June 2005 by the Kårstø test team and reference group. An order for a full-scale GVS for methane detection was received after successful on-site testing for more than a year. The system is optimised for methane detection at a range of 10m-250m, and is mounted on a pan and tilt platform for optimal scanning.

REMOTE PASSIVE GAS SENSING

Measuring techniques for monitoring gas emissions can be divided into point-monitoring (in-situ) and remote sensing methods.

The former are basically 'gas sniffers', which operate on the principle of mass spectrometry, chromatography, etc., and are notoriously slow in covering a large number of potential leak sources, e.g. in the petroleum and petrochemical industry. Conversely, remote sensing techniques, and in particular their imaging varieties like the GasOptics GVS, are fast and efficient.

For flexible monitoring of a large area, a passive technology like the GVS is preferred to an active technology that must use an artificial radiation source for illumination of the target area.