Methane Emissions Monitoring for Midstream Assets
Trihydro supported a midstream operator with a methane emissions program, combining methane emissions quantification, monitoring, verification, and reporting (QMVR) across natural gas gathering, processing, transmission, and storage assets. The program spanned assets in Colorado, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Washington, West Virginia, and Wyoming and was designed to support both regulatory compliance and long-term emissions management objectives.
Certified thermographers traveled coast to coast to conduct recurring field activities focused on identifying and quantifying greenhouse gas emissions using optical gas imaging and direct measurement techniques. The coordinated approach allowed the operator to gain consistent, defensible emissions data across a geographically diverse asset portfolio.
Nationwide Methane Emissions Monitoring Program
Quarterly monitoring events were completed at a wide range of midstream facilities, including gas plants, compressor stations, and storage assets. These events quantified methane emissions from compressor vents, atmospheric storage tanks, process controllers, pumps, and fugitive components identified as leaking during inspections. Monitoring was performed in a manner that also satisfied applicable regulatory-driven optical gas imaging requirements, allowing the operator to efficiently address compliance and emissions management objectives through a single coordinated program.
Quantification, Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification (QMRV) Approach
Trihydro used FLIR Gx320 and GFx320 optical gas imaging cameras to screen all potential emission sources for methane. When fugitive leaks were identified, methane flow rates were quantified using the Semtech HI FLOW 2 high volume sampler, with measurements recorded in standard cubic feet per minute.
Leak-specific data, including flow rates and supporting documentation, was captured in Trihydro’s proprietary data management platform, LeakTracker Pro®, providing a consistent and defensible record of field observations.
Measurement-Informed Methane Emissions Inventory
The information collected during these monitoring events supported the development of a measurement-informed emissions inventory for the operator’s midstream assets. This inventory allowed the operator to prioritize leak repairs by emission rate rather than component count alone, improving the effectiveness of repair efforts.
The data also provided a more detailed understanding of compressor vent emissions over time, including how emissions evolved following rod packing replacement. Selected datasets were used to inform engineering evaluations for future capture and control emissions-reduction projects.
Methane Emissions Reporting and Results
Following each monitoring event, Trihydro provided summary reports highlighting fugitive-leak and compressor-vent methane flow rates. This information supported facility-level emissions evaluations that incorporated gas-stream composition data to estimate total volatile organic compound (VOC), hazardous air pollutant (HAP), and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The resulting work product provided actionable, measurement-based data to support regulatory compliance, emissions reporting, and longer-term emissions reduction planning.
