Site-Level Methane Quantification at Gas Pressure Regulation Stations
How StaXion Mini combines continuous TDLAS methane measurement with controlled extraction and normalized airflow to produce traceable site-level emission rates.
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CASE STUDY AT A GLANCE
Customer:
European gas distribution network operator (anonymized)
Application:
Enclosed above-ground gas infrastructure
Method:
Controlled extraction / air exchange
Technology:
StaXion Mini + normalized flow measurement
Test range:
Controlled CHâ‚„ sequences: 10–500 ppm
Output:
Site-level emission rate in L/h or g/h + plausibility
THE COMMERCIAL QUESTION
How can a network operator move beyond periodic leak detection and obtain a representative, repeatable and auditable measurement of total methane emissions from an entire station?
01 The challenge
From periodic snapshots to defensible site-level emissions data
Periodic inspections can leave long blind periods. The operator needed a methodology that quantified total site emissions rather than simply locating concentration peaks.
PERIODIC VISIBILITY
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A leak that develops after an inspection can persist until the next survey or intervention.
MULTIPLE POTENTIAL SOURCES
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Pressure-regulation installations can contain several components that collectively contribute to the site total.
QUANTIFICATION, NOT JUST DETECTION
The requirement was a traceable site-level emission rate supported by continuous measurement data.
StaXion Mini integrates the measurement chain required for continuous site-level quantification in one field platform.
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High-precision TDLAS methane measurement for continuous CHâ‚„ concentration data.
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Normalized airflow measurement, with pressure and temperature normalization for quantification.
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Autonomous field operation with battery power, optional solar and cellular connectivity.
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Cloud transmission, alerts, remote diagnostics and open-API integration into utility workflows.
CH₄ concentration + normalized airflow → site-level methane emission rate
02 FIELD EVALUATION
Real operating conditions. Controlled measurement logic.
The field work evaluated enclosure / building extraction and the behaviour of methane concentration during representative air exchange.
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BUILDING EXTRACTION ​
Defined ventilation opening connected to the extraction line.
MEASUREMENT SETUP
SensorX measurement unit, normalized airflow and digital logging.
COMPACT ENCLOSURE
Temporary enclosure concept for compact above-ground assets.
WHAT WAS TESTED
​CONTROLLED CH₄
Low-ppm to several-hundred-ppm test sequences ​
NORMALIZED FLOW
Flow measurement with pressure / temperature correction​
CONTINUOUS DATA
Digital CHâ‚„ logging at 2-second intervals
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REPRESENTATIVE AIR EXCHANGE
Measurement continued through the extraction cycle until stable conditions​
STANDARDIZED SIX-STEP FIELD WORKFLOW
01
Plan
Site, volume, Ex zones​
04
Stabilize
Representative stable signal​
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02
Enclosure
Tarpaulin or building extraction​
05
Extract
Complete defined extraction cycle
03
Measure
CHâ‚„, flow, P/T
06
Report
Rate, curve, plausibility
03 KEY FIELD INSIGHT
Quantify after stabilization — not from the initial concentration peak.
Controlled extraction changes the measured concentration as the enclosed air volume is exchanged. The representative value is the stabilized CHâ‚„ level reached after sufficient air exchange.
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WHAT THE FIELD TESTS SHOWED
STABLE MEASUREMENT BEHAVIOUR
Stable TDLAS curves across the controlled field sequences.
EXTRACTION DYNAMICS
​Continuous data captured the concentration decline as the enclosed volume was exchanged.
LOW-PPM VISIBILITY​
Methane remained clearly measurable during the low-concentration extraction sequence.
SETUP MATTERS
​Enclosure integrity, air mixing, sampling location, dead zones and extraction flow influence the result.
04 QUANTIFICATION & RESULT QUALITY
From concentration and flow to an auditable site-level result.
Reliable quantification depends on the complete measurement system: representative extraction, normalized flow, stabilization criteria and transparent documentation.
QUANTIFICATION OUTPUT
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Stable CHâ‚„ concentration
Representative value after air exchange
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Normalized extraction flow
Flow corrected using pressure and temperature
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Site-level emission rate
Reported in L/h or g/h with measurement curve and plausibility assessment
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Methodology context
DVGW G 425-3-aligned workflow; designed to support EUMR / OGMP 2.0 measurement and documentation needs.
QUALITY CONTROLS BUILT INTO THE METHODOLOGY
ENCLOSURE INTEGRITY
Avoid leakage from tarpaulin or building envelope.​
SAMPLING REPRESENTATIVENESS
Avoid dead zones and non-representative sampling points.
AIR EXCHANGE
Ensure sufficient extraction and representative mixing.
DATA QUALITY
Do not quantify before steady state; normalize flow and capture P/T.​
Public version: absolute customer emission-rate values are withheld. The field evaluation demonstrated a reproducible workflow using the stabilized CHâ‚„ value after representative air exchange.
05 FROM MEASUREMENT TO ACTION
Continuous visibility. Quantified emissions. Faster decisions.
StaXion Mini turns continuous field measurements into actionable emissions information for maintenance, compliance and asset management.
VALUE FOR NETWORK OPERATORS
CONTINUOUS VISIBILITY​
Reduce the blind period between periodic inspection campaigns.
PRIORITIZED MAINTENANCE
Use emissions information to focus investigation and repair activity.
UTILITY INTEGRATION
​Connect data, alerts and workflows through cloud / API interfaces.
SITE-LEVEL QUANTIFICATION
​Move from concentration readings to total facility emission rates.
TRACEABLE DOCUMENTATION
Retain continuous data, curves and plausibility evidence.
THE TAKEAWAY
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Reliable site-level methane quantification is a measurement-system challenge — not simply a sensor challenge.
Representative air exchange, stable CHâ‚„ measurement, normalized flow and traceable data handling work together to produce a defensible result.
DISCUSS YOUR SITE
Pressure regulation • Metering • Valve stations • Other enclosed gas assets
Field evidence in this case study was generated at operational European gas utility sites.
Customer and site details are anonymized in the public version.