Momentick detects dozens of methane leaks covering entire O&G region in Western Texas

Over 50 methane leaks attributed to 18 facilities and their owners.  

A few weeks ago, as part of our ongoing research into oil and gas related methane emissions in the USA, we turned our attention to Midland and the surrounding counties in Western Texas.

The Midland Basin, part of the famous Permian oil and gas basin, accounted for ~15% of US crude oil production and ~6% of dry natural gas production in 2020. Exploited since the 1940’s, it is densely populated with a plethora of pinpoint and elongated production facilities such as wells, pumps, compressor stations, metering stations, pipelines and more. With hydraulic fracturing unlocking new gas bearing formations in the last two decades, and a new takeaway pipeline coming online in 2020, the potential for fugitive methane leaks and unregulated flaring is immense. 

A hotspot for methane leaks with a significant detection challenge

This sheer density of production wells and related facilities per square kilometer pose a significant challenge for any Leak Detection and Remediation (LDAR) program but also an opportunity for satellite-based emission tools to shine. 

For Momentick, this was a perfect case to push the boundaries of our automated GHG detection technology. We were intrigued - could we accurately attribute detected and quantified emissions to specific facilities and their owners despite the crowded environment? 

Breathtaking well pad grid pattern around Midland town region as seen in satellite terrain basemap from Momentick’s platform. 

AI-enhanced monitoring and detection of past and current emissions

To begin with, we randomly selected 30 assets spanning the Midland, Andrews, Ector, Crane, Glasscock, Upton, and Martin Counties in Texas for a closer examination. Chosen facilities included wells, metering stations, pipelines, and compressor stations owned by multiple operators. The search was limited to the last 4 years, since 2020. 

After compiling and integrating a huge dataset of historic satellite imagery with live data streams from multiple satellite constellations, we unleashed our proprietary AI algorithms. These tools have been trained to detect even the slightest localized methane signal in hyper-spectral bands of satellite images over vast regions. A report is automatically generated, complete with emission rate estimation, ownership status, time-series analysis of plume progression, and more. An expert scientist then checks and validates each plume detected by the platform. 

The results were compelling as we revealed dozens of methane emissions from recent years. Out of the 30 chosen assets, we detected 50 methane plumes, emanating from 18 distinct facilities. That's more than half of the randomly selected assets emitting more than once. 

Over 20 methane emissions were detected in 2022, and 9 to date in 2024. The most recent emission was recorded on June 25, 2024.

In 2022, an astronomical 11,806 wells were completed in Midland County alone which corroborates the spike in our leak detections for 2023. 

All of the detected plumes are considered Super Emitters according to the EPA, with most exuding over 4500 Kg/hr and five over 10,000 Kg/hr. Most emissions originate from wellhead. 

Thanks to the quality and resolution of our datasets, we were able to detect point sources with an accuracy of a few meters. This allowed us to attribute each detected plume to the exact pads, pumps, or location in the pipeline it originates from. Of course, at this level of granularity, each emission can also be attributed to a specific operating company. 

Time lapse of a single well pad emissions in Midland County, TX. During 3 summer months of 2020 a leak on the Northern end of the pad continuously emitted methane until plugged. Then, in 2022 another massive leak was detected, this time from a wellhead on the Southern end of the platform.

A game-changing methane monitoring tool for operators and regulators

These results validated our technology’s ability to cover large, complex regions of crowded production assets and trace emissions back to their sources with high precision. But the work is not over. 

At the moment there are 15,013 wells in Midland County with 75% of them producing hydrocarbons. Expanding Momentick’s monitoring to all of them is as easy as the click of a button which would undoubtedly reveal thousands more Super Emitters. 

The good news is that following the uptick in 2023 leaks, operators made efforts to remediate. But at what cost? 

The potential for positive climate and financial impact is huge. With comprehensive and precise methane emissions intelligence, operators can allocate resources smartly. Precise geolocation and quantification of leaks, for example, enables swift prioritization that improves the efficiency of LDAR (Leak Detection and Repair) teams. 

What’s more, thanks to Momentick’s high-frequency coverage of past years, oil and gas operators can easily prove their remediation efforts are effective and demonstrate compliance with regulatory requirements. In turn, in the hands of regulators, Momentick’s technology can enable better enforcement and collaboration with producers towards a common goal - net zero emissions.