Next level leak detection

With more than twenty years of specialization in leak detection and repair (LDAR), KLINGER Australia‘s Integrity services department ATMECO has seen trends come and go. “We are looking continuously at advancements made within LDAR detection methods and reporting technologies,” explains Silvio Stojic, General Manager of ATMECO. The LDAR process captures fugitive emissions, so named because they require specialized tools to detect. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) can leak from valves, flanges, and pumps, causing risk to both employees and the environment. A combination of “boots on the ground” inspection and state-of-the-art equipment keeps the ATMECO team on the cutting edge of industry programs, with customers reaping the rewards.

Isolating compounds with optical gas imaging (OCI)

While plants have long tried to curb leaks as a cost saving measure, the environmental impact is more of a priority now than ever before. Customers are targeting methane detection in a bid to reach zero emissions, per United Nations (UN) standards. Optical gas imaging (OGI) is a preferred system for this work, which uses cameras with custom filters to detect the infrared bands that signal a leak. ATMECO has upgraded to a photonic system, which allows even more precise measurement.

This and other cutting-edge tools feed directly into ATMECO’s bespoke component integrity management system (CIMS), allowing clients to manage all plant data and assets in one central web platform.

Gold standard emission reporting

Keeping up with laws and regulations can be just as challenging as keeping up with tech. With more than 140 countries pledging a net zero emissions target, efforts are ramping up across the globe to meet those dates. Further, more than 80 countries have committed to the Oil & Gas Methane Partnership 2.0 (OGMP), another UN effort that improves the accuracy of methane emissions reporting through a five-level framework. The top level, known as the “Gold Standard,” is highly ambitious, causing some companies to trial detection methods that prove inefficient. Satellite monitoring, for example, offers plants a bird’s eye view, but cannot account for which emissions are native to the facility, and which are brought in by wind.

Fortunately, the ATMECO team has the experience to discern which techniques are both sensitive and accurate enough to meet OGMP guidelines, while also meeting the needs of the plant. As Edwin explains, “In classical monitoring, you will be at level three OGMP. To step up to level four and five, you need these extra technologies. It depends on the kind of facilities you have. A particular technology may be suitable for one type of facility, but it may not be good for another facility.” Whatever specific tools and methods are needed, be it sensors, drones, cameras, or old-fashioned hands-on exams, ATMECO’s LDAR team has the experience and resources to meet all the client’s needs.