QGMC Quantitative Gas Measurement Campaign

Natural gas is expected to continue to increase its role as a major global energy source for decades to come. But, while natural gas combustion is cleaner and more efficient than other fossil fuels, methane, the primary constituent of natural gas, is 30 times more potent than CO2 as a greenhouse gas, so leakage in production and transportation can overwrite the environmental benefits of natural gas use. Natural gas leaks within the global Oil & Gas industry are widespread and have serious safety and economic costs estimated. The market for leak detection equipment and services is therefore growing rapidly and is expected to exceed $3Bn in 2022 but existing technologies remain inadequate for widespread industrial application. QLM Technology is developing a novel remote sensing natural gas leak detection solution based on quantum technology capable of both imaging and quantifying the leaks. NPL has strong expertise in the demonstration and calibration of natural gas leaks in commercially relevant environments and in relating sensor measurements to physical leak rates. This Analysis For Innovators project will involve remotely measuring NPL's calibrated methane leaks in outdoor conditions using the QLM prototype system.