Drone-based methane detection: find and locate gas leaks

Methane absorbs infrared light at very specific wavelengths. A tunable diode laser absorption spectroscopy sensor, known as TDLAS, sends a laser beam toward a surface and measures how much light is absorbed on the way. The result is the amount of methane along the beam path, usually expressed in parts per million metres. Carried on a drone, this gives a gas reading wherever the aircraft flies.

The drone follows a planned pattern over the facility, usually at a safe height and speed, and every reading is tagged with its GPS position and the wind recorded at the time. Plotting these values shows plumes and hotspots. Because methane is lighter than air and moves with the wind, interpreting the readings needs wind data and often a second pass from a different direction to pinpoint the source.

This approach is well suited to wellpads, compressor and metering stations, pipeline corridors, tank farms and landfill sites, where walking a handheld detector over every component is slow and may expose people to risk. It is a screening and localisation tool, so a flagged leak is normally confirmed and repaired by the site team.

Limits are real. Strong wind disperses plumes and lowers sensitivity, reflective or very dark ground can weaken the laser return, and a drone sensor does not replace regulatory-grade fixed monitoring or a gas safety procedure.