TotalEnergies ups methane detection ante and signs up another firm to its drone-based tech

With COP29 prompting further action to mitigate climate change and bring down greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, many players are heading the call, as confirmed by France’s energy giant TotalEnergies, which has set its cap on deploying real-time methane emissions detection equipment on all operated upstream assets as part of its efforts to curtail the methane footprint from its operations. In addition, the firm expanded the list of companies using its drone-based methane detection technology across oil and gas assets by adding Oil India Limited (OIL) to it.

After halving its methane emissions from its operated sites between 2010 and 2020, TotalEnergies set ambitious targets to step up its efforts and slash methane emissions by a further 50% by 2025 – with the ambition to reach the target a year early, in 2024 – and by 80% in 2030, compared to 2020. The firm is also committed to promoting the United Nations Oil and Gas Methane Partnership (OGMP 2.0) framework with other oil companies.

Given its ambition to aim for near-zero methane emissions by 2030, which TotalEnergies has been pursuing since 2022, the French player decided to go a step further in the monitoring and reduction of its methane by installing continuous detection equipment on all its operated upstream assets, enabling real-time identification of methane emissions, both fugitive and stationary, and immediate corrective actions to stop them.

Patrick Pouyanné, Chairman and CEO of TotalEnergies, commented: “Slashing down methane emissions is a short-term priority to contribute to the fight against climate change. Continuous, real-time detection will enable our operators to act in an even more decisive manner in order to reduce our methane emissions and to repair leaks to achieve our near-zero methane emissions ambition.

“As a champion of the Oil & Gas Decarbonization Charter (OGDC), I am proud that TotalEnergies is leading the way in deploying such equipment at large scale and we will continue to work with the industry to share best practices in measuring and fighting methane emissions.” 

The continuous detection plan is expected to be fully implemented by end-2025, using existing and proven technologies, such as loT sensors, InfraRed cameras, flowmeters, and predictive emissions monitoring systems on combustion sources. The French giant is convinced that the continuous, real-time detection on this scale for existing facilities and projects under development, such as the FPSO GranMorgu project in Suriname, is “a pioneering move in the industry.”

Shortly after handpicking Scotland’s ADC Energy for the rig selection process related to its GranMorgu development, TotalEnergies hired SBM Offshore and Technip Energies to construct and install an FPSO for the project; TechnipFMC for integrated engineering, procurement, construction, and installation (iEPCI) work; and Saipem for the engineering, procurement, supply, construction, installation, pre-commissioning and assistance for the commissioning and start-up of the subsea umbilicals, risers and flowlines (SURF) package.

The French firm underlines that it will meet its target to halve methane emissions compared to 2020, a year ahead of plan, thus, it is on track to achieve the targeted 80% reduction by 2030, thanks to various initiatives, including the deployment of its Airborne Ultralight Spectrometer for Environmental Applications (AUSEA) technology campaigns.

Following the endorsement of the Oil & Gas Decarbonization Charter at COP28, TotalEnergies penned cooperation agreements with Petrobras, SOCAR, Sonangol, and NNPCL to carry out methane detection and measurement campaigns using its AUSEA technology on oil and gas facilities in Brazil, Azerbaijan, Angola, and Nigeria.

The French oil major also inked a similar agreement with India’s Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) to share its AUSEA technology to assist the other player in pivoting towards zero methane emissions by 2030.

𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞:

• 📎TotalEnergies, Petrobras, SOCAR, and Sonangol join forces to curb methane footprint
• 📎With routine flaring out of the way, TotalEnergies teams up with NNPC to curb Nigeria’s methane footprint
• 📎COP28 brings ‘historic’ action as 50 oil & gas players pen decarbonization charter
• 📎COP28’s ‘historic package’: Writing on the wall that spells end of fossil fuel era or new opportunity for gas and LNG players?

Oil India, which recently joined the OGDC, is the latest company to sign a cooperation agreement with TotalEnergies to carry out methane emissions detection and measurement campaigns using the AUSEA technology at its sites in India.

Commenting on the pact, Dr. Ranjit Rath, Chairman & Managing Director of OIL, remarked: “By joining our peers in the OGDC, OIL reiterates India’s commitment to the global community, while underscoring OIL’s dedication to reducing emissions. OIL is pleased to be collaborating with TotalEnergies, an industry pioneer in methane emissions detection and measurements.”

Mounted on a drone, the AUSEA gas analyzer, developed by TotalEnergies and its R&D partners, consists of a dual sensor capable of detecting methane and carbon dioxide emissions, while simultaneously identifying their source. This technology is said to mark a step change in methane emissions detection and measurement compared to traditional techniques.

AUSEA is reputed as one of the most accurate technologies in the industry, allowing access to hard-to-reach emission points on all types of industrial facilities, both offshore and onshore, according to TotalEnergies.

“We are delighted that OIL has joined the growing list of national companies we are collaborating with by making our AUSEA technology available. This is a clear demonstration that the Oil & Gas Decarbonization Charter launched at COP28 has gained momentum, thanks to the promotion of industrial best practices,” highlightedPouyanné.

Given the OGDC’s ambition to work towards net-zero operations by 2050, near-zero upstream methane emissions, and zero routine flaring by 2030, OGDC members are committed to measuring progress and publicly reporting it.

Therefore, TotalEnergies makes the AUSEA technology available to other operators among the signatories in line with the OGDC’s principle of sharing good practices, as an effective and recognized tool to detect, measure, and eventually abate methane emissions on their assets.

“Today, AUSEA performs campaigns on every continent and contributes to the OGDC signatories’ ambition to aim at near-zero upstream methane emissions by 2030,” emphasized Pouyanné.

Recently, the French player joined forces with Equinor, Shell, and BP to help support access to energy with a $500 million joint investment commitment. In addition, TotalEnergies plans to spend $400 million on liquefied petroleum gas facilities to enable low-carbon energy in Africa and India.