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EP-4741821-A1 - GAS DETECTION SYSTEM

EP4741821A1EP 4741821 A1EP4741821 A1EP 4741821A1EP-4741821-A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a gas detection system comprising a plurality of cables (104, 105, 106) and an airborne body (100), wherein the airborne body (100) is attached to an anchored object (201) by the plurality of cables (104, 105, 106), the airborne body (100) carrying a sensor configured to take measurements for gas detection, wherein the system is configured so that the trajectory of the airborne body (100) is controllable by adjusting the length of one or more of the plurality of cables (104, 105, 106) using respective winches.

Inventors

  • BLANCO, Benoit
  • MAUNOURY, Abel

Assignees

  • TotalEnergies OneTech

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20241107

Claims (14)

  1. A gas detection system comprising a plurality of cables (104, 105, 106) and an airborne body (100), wherein the airborne body (100) is attached to an anchored object (201) by the plurality of cables (104, 105, 106), the airborne body (100) carrying a sensor configured to take measurements for gas detection, wherein the system is configured so that the trajectory of the airborne body (100) is controllable by adjusting the length of one or more of the plurality of cables (104, 105, 106) using respective winches.
  2. The gas detection system of claim 1, wherein the airborne body (100) comprises an envelope (101) filled with a gas which is less dense than air, preferably helium.
  3. The gas detection system of claim 2, wherein the envelope (101) comprises a remotely operated security valve configured to release the gas from the envelope (101).
  4. The gas detection system of claim 2 or 3, wherein the airborne body (100) further comprises two wings (102, 103) on either side of the envelope (101).
  5. The gas detection system of any of claims 1-4, wherein the plurality of cables (104, 105, 106) comprise one or more main fixation cables (106) and one or more steering cables (104, 105), wherein the one or more steering cables (104, 105) are configured to control the orientation of the airborne body (100), and wherein, preferably, one steering cable (104) is fixed to one wing (102) of the airborne body (100) and another steering cable (105) is fixed to another wing (103) of the airborne body (100).
  6. The gas detection system of any of claims 1-5, which comprises a communication module, configured to send measurement data acquired by the sensor to a remote receiving system, wherein the communication module is preferably a wireless communication module, such as a Wi-Fi communication module.
  7. The gas detection system of any of claims 1-6, which further comprises a positioning module, preferably including an altitude sensor and/or a GPS.
  8. The gas detection system of any of claims 1-7, wherein the sensor is configured to detect methane.
  9. The gas detection system of any of claims 1-8, wherein the anchored object (201) is at sea (200).
  10. The gas detection system of any of claims 1-9, further comprising a motorized actuating device on the anchored object (201), configured for adjusting the length of one or more of the plurality of cables (104, 105, 106), and a control unit configured for controlling the motorized actuating device.
  11. A process of gas detection using the gas detection system of any of claims 1-10, comprising driving the airborne body (100) of the system along an airborne trajectory (203) by adjusting the length of one or more of the plurality of cables (104, 105, 106) and taking a plurality of gas measurements with the sensor.
  12. The process of claim 11, wherein the trajectory comprises a plurality of portions of geodesics on a plurality of virtual spheres.
  13. The process of claim 11 or 12, further comprises sending measurement data from the sensor to a remote receiving system, preferably by wireless communication.
  14. The process of any of claims 11-13, for monitoring and detecting a gas leak, preferably in the vicinity of an oil and/or gas production unit, more preferably in the vicinity of an offshore oil and/or gas production unit (202).

Description

Technical field The present invention relates to a gas detection system that can provide monitoring of a gas such as methane (CH4). The invention also relates to a process of gas detection using the gas detection system. Technical background Anthropogenic methane emissions come from a large number of relatively small point sources. Methane emissions for example from oil and gas production units can be difficult to measure. Typical existing solutions comprise atmospheric measurements from satellites, drones, cameras or ground sensors. All these technologies have different detection thresholds and revisit frequencies. Satellites can have a daily revisit and a detection threshold of 100 kg/h. Drones have a good detection threshold of 1 kg/h, but the revisit frequency depends on the availability of a drone pilot and is therefore generally low. In particular, currently, some legislations do not allow for autonomous drones. Ground sensors are poorly illuminated when there is a methane plume and generally not really efficient, and cameras have to focus on a specific portion. Document CN103105468 discloses a kite and balloon air pollutant detection device. This kite is not controllable. Within this context there is still a need for an improved system for in situ atmospheric gas detection having both frequent revisit and low gas detection threshold. By way of background information, and without any relation to the context of atmospheric gas detection, document KR20190013376A relates to a helikite, which drifts with the wind and is not controllable. Furthermore, kite balloons such as the AirPup balloon are known. Summary of the invention The invention relates to a gas detection system comprising a plurality of cables and an airborne body, wherein the airborne body is attached to an anchored object by the plurality of cables, the airborne body carrying a sensor configured to take measurements for gas detection, wherein the system is configured so that the trajectory of the airborne body is controllable by adjusting the length of one or more of the plurality of cables using respective winches. In some variations, the airborne body comprises an envelope filled with a gas which is less dense than air, preferably helium. In some variations, the envelope comprises a remotely operated security valve configured to release the gas from the envelope. In some variations, the airborne body further comprises two wings on either side of the envelope. In some variations, the plurality of cables comprise one or more main fixation cables and one or more steering cables, wherein the one or more steering cables are configured to control the orientation of the airborne body, and wherein, preferably, one steering cable is fixed to one wing of the airborne body and another steering cable is fixed to another wing of the airborne body. In some variations, the gas detection system comprises a communication module, configured to send measurement data acquired by the sensor to a remote receiving system, wherein the communication module is preferably a wireless communication module, such as a Wi-Fi communication module. In some variations, the gas detection system further comprises a positioning module, preferably including an altitude sensor and/or a GPS. In some variations, the sensor is configured to detect methane. In some variations, the anchored object is at sea. In some variations, the gas detection system further comprises a motorized actuating device on the anchored object, configured for adjusting the length of one or more of the plurality of cables, and a control unit configured for controlling the motorized actuating device. The invention also relates to a process of gas detection using the gas detection system as defined above, comprising driving the airborne body of the system along an airborne trajectory by adjusting the length of one or more of the plurality of cables and taking a plurality of gas measurements with the sensor. In some variations, the trajectory comprises a plurality of portions of geodesics on a plurality of virtual spheres. In some variations, the process further comprises sending measurement data from the sensor to a remote receiving system, preferably by wireless communication. In some variations, the process is for monitoring and detecting a gas leak, preferably in the vicinity of an oil and/or gas production unit, more preferably in the vicinity of an offshore oil and/or gas production unit. The invention relates to a gas detection system that provides an improved solution for detecting a gas such as methane in the atmosphere. This gas detection system can remain full-time on site and provide continuous atmospheric measurements. When compared with detection by drones, satellites, ground sensors and cameras, the present invention offers a better compromise in terms of detection threshold and revisit frequency. The trajectory of the airborne body is controllable thanks to the plurality of cables which are con