Grant: Idea to Innovation
St. Francis Xavier University
$82,950.00
Enhancement of mobile emissions monitoring technology for commercialization: idea to innovation phase IIB
FY 2018-19
Summary
In Alberta alone, energy sector gas leaks have twice the greenhouse impact of all personal vehicles in the province. Regulations are tightening quickly, but locating fugitive gas emissions (unplanned emissions from oil and gas reservoirs) is still a challenge. In response to this need, Dr. Dave Risk's FluxLab at St. Francis Xavier University has developed a mobile atmospheric emission sensing technology that detects the presence and origin of methane, greenhouse, and toxic fugitive gas emissions from conventional or unconventional developments in the upstream and downstream energy sector. This technology is referred to as ExACT for Emissions Attribution Using Computational Techniques. The potential of ExACT is demonstrated through our past work and project successes, having over 30 government, industry, academic, and NGO partners across three countries. In January 2017, members of Altus Geomatics (a Canadian Altus Group company) and StFX University signed a collaboration agreement for the exclusive commercialization and usage rights of the technology. The next step in commercialization is to refine ExACT for use in a real world, marketable context, as until now the technique has been used primarily for research. Over the proposed two-year time frame, this project will fund the final stages of technological enhancement required for full commercialization. The project will involve a team of experienced technicians, a post-doctorate, a project manager, and a team lead; many of whom will collaborate with members of Altus Geomatics to meet the technical and market-driven milestones in the activity schedule. These process improvements are needed to standardize our software and analysis procedures, allowing them to be easily adopted by the receptor company. The strong demand for this technology stems from issues around liability, regulation, corporate environmental responsibility, and profit (due to lost product). For operators, identifying fugitive emissions can reduce their environmental liability, improve safety on site, reduce landowner complaints (H2S in particular), and minimize lost product. *
Program
Idea to Innovation
Recipient
Location
Nova Scotia, Canada
Recipient Type
Academia
Type
Grant
Source
NSERC's Awards Data
As published
Application id
508632-2017
Name nom
Risk, Dave
Department département
Earth Sciences
Organization id
83
Institution établissement
St. Francis Xavier University
Province en
Nova Scotia
Province fr
Nouvelle-Écosse
Country en
CANADA
Country fr
CANADA
Fiscal year exercice financier
2018
Competition year année de concours
2017
Award amount
82950
Program id
I2IPJ
Program name en
Idea to Innovation
Program name fr
De l'idée à l'innovation
Group en
Research partnerships programs
Group fr
Programmes de partenariat
Committee code
96
Committee name en
RPP Internal Decision Cttee
Committee name fr
Cté de décision interne - PPR
Area of application code
409
Area of application group en
Environment
Area of application group fr
Environnement
Area of application en
Environmental impact of economic activities (including agriculture)
Area of application fr
Effet des activités économiques sur l'environnement (y compris agriculture)
Research subject code
2300
Research subject group en
Fuel and energy technology
Research subject group fr
Combustibles et technologie de l'énergie
Research subject en
Fuel and energy technology (economic geology, use 4003)
Research subject fr
Combustibles et technologie de l'énergie (géologie économique, utiliser 4003)
Partie
2
Nb partie
2
Application title
Enhancement of mobile emissions monitoring technology for commercialization: idea to innovation phase IIB
Keyword
NSERC
Application summary
In Alberta alone, energy sector gas leaks have twice the greenhouse impact of all personal vehicles in the province. Regulations are tightening quickly, but locating fugitive gas emissions (unplanned emissions from oil and gas reservoirs) is still a challenge. In response to this need, Dr. Dave Risk's FluxLab at St. Francis Xavier University has developed a mobile atmospheric emission sensing technology that detects the presence and origin of methane, greenhouse, and toxic fugitive gas emissions from conventional or unconventional developments in the upstream and downstream energy sector. This technology is referred to as ExACT for Emissions Attribution Using Computational Techniques. The potential of ExACT is demonstrated through our past work and project successes, having over 30 government, industry, academic, and NGO partners across three countries. In January 2017, members of Altus Geomatics (a Canadian Altus Group company) and StFX University signed a collaboration agreement for the exclusive commercialization and usage rights of the technology. The next step in commercialization is to refine ExACT for use in a real world, marketable context, as until now the technique has been used primarily for research. Over the proposed two-year time frame, this project will fund the final stages of technological enhancement required for full commercialization. The project will involve a team of experienced technicians, a post-doctorate, a project manager, and a team lead; many of whom will collaborate with members of Altus Geomatics to meet the technical and market-driven milestones in the activity schedule. These process improvements are needed to standardize our software and analysis procedures, allowing them to be easily adopted by the receptor company. The strong demand for this technology stems from issues around liability, regulation, corporate environmental responsibility, and profit (due to lost product). For operators, identifying fugitive emissions can reduce their environmental liability, improve safety on site, reduce landowner complaints (H2S in particular), and minimize lost product. *
