Neptune in first EDF advanced drone emissions study

Neptune Energy has completed a first-of-its-kind collaboration with Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) using advanced drone technologies to measure methane emissions from a working UK offshore platform.

OBJECTIVE

The operation assessed advanced methods for identifying, quantifying and reducing offshore methane emissions from the Neptune-operated Cygnus gas production facility in the UK Southern North Sea.

Results of the study will be published in a scientific peer-reviewed paper during 2022.

STUDY

EDF scientists co-ordinated the five-day study which involved UK-based drone platform provider, Texo DSI, operating a rotary drone provided by Scientific Aviation.

An unmanned fixed-wing drone carrying methane measuring and analytics technology provided by SeekOps was flown from Weybourne Airfield in Norfolk to Cygnus.

The aircraft, operated by Flylogix, circled the facility starting from a point above the platform and reducing incrementally to just above sea level, recording the total volume of emissions.

Neptune said that the operation covered more than 313 miles and is believed to be one of the longest of its kind to be conducted in the UK North Sea.

METHANE

VP operations Europe, Pete Jones, added that given the short lifespan of methane emissions, meaningful action today could bring positive results in as little as nine years.

“Neptune already has one of the lowest methane intensities in the sector, at 0.01%, compared with the industry average of 0.23%, and has set a target of net zero methane emissions by 2030.

“Proactive action by the UK offshore industry including the reduction of flaring and venting contributed towards a 11% fall in upstream GHG emissions between 2018 and 2020.”

OGMP

Neptune was the first independent E&P to sign the Climate and Clean Air Coalition’s Oil and Gas Methane Partnership (OGMP), which is led by the UN Environment Programme in partnership with the European Commission, UK Government, EDF and more than 70 oil and gas companies.