Russ Nelson, Shell
The objective of this project was to field test Differential Absorption Light Detection and Ranging (DIAL) technology in Alberta as a means to:
– monitor ambient SO2 concentrations in the vicinity of sour gas well test flares and track the SO2 plume position,
– measure the combustion efficiency of well test and solution gas flares,
– measure fugitive emissions of methane and other hydrocarbons from gas processing facilities.
Differential Absorption Light Detection and Ranging (DIAL) is a laser-based optical method that can remotely measure the concentration of gases in the atmosphere up to 2 km distant with detection limits in the order of parts per billion. By combining DIAL measured 2D concentration maps with measured wind speed, the mass emissions of the species in a plume can be calculated. Spectrasyne Ltd., UK, has commercially operated a DIAL system in Europe for over 15 years to measure fugitive emissions of hydrocarbons from oil and gas processing and storage facilities, combustion efficiency flares, hydrocarbon emissions from airports, benzene emissions from petrochemical facilities and NOx emissions from flares.
