“Shvabe” Holding creates a laser system for monitoring gas pipelines from a helicopter and drone

Shvabe Holding is creating a multifunctional modular LIDAR complex as part of Vector program of Rostec State Corporation. The implementation of new technology for monitoring gas pipelines from the air and searching for new oil and gas fields is planned to launch in 2023.

The key element of the complex is a lidar sensor on a single laser-based source. The lidar complex is capable of performing high-precision monitoring of hydrocarbon gases from a Mi-8 helicopter or Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV). 

The flight altitude varies from 50 meters up to one kilometer. The development for oil and gas industry is also required to measure absolute values, three-dimensional distribution space and gas concentration with the construction of digital model of geoinformation space. 

The uniqueness of the complex is the capability to register small concentrations of heavy carbon gases in the surface layers of the atmosphere, which are directly indicators of oil and gas deposits. There are no analogs of this technology. Other distinguishing features of the development include mapping territories, protection from methane gases, and determining absolute concentrations of up to 288 substances in a single device with no need to replace components. 

The development is planning to apply in oilfield services including oil and gas exploration. Using of lidar complex, specialists will be able to detect accidents and illegal connections to existing gas pipelines at an early stage, monitor networks, and search for new oil and gas deposits within large areas, including Arctic territories. 

The complex is also used for searching for offshore oil and gas fields, additional exploration, detection of local zones for drilling in already exploited fields, and solving other tasks of the industry. 

"The equipment of flying platforms with such a laser system is very relevant due to the fact that often the territories of gas pipeline position are usually far away, difficult to access and do not have road infrastructure. At the first stage of the project, our engineers developed an experimental sample that has already passed the experimental tests. Today we are working to create the first prototype of the lidar complex. We plan to implement the project in 2023, ", commented Sergey Popov, First Deputy General Director of Shvabe Holding (R & D and Innovations). 

The experimental tests of the sample were successfully conducted on the route of the main Urengoy-Novopskov gas pipeline and Mishparminskoye-2 gas condensate field with support of the All-Russia Petroleum Research Exploration Institute. During the course of the tests the lidar complex determined the minimum concentrations of methane, ethane, propane and hydrogen sulfide in the surface layers of the atmosphere from a distance of 150 meters. Polyus Research Institute of M. F. Stelmakh JSC, enters “Shvabe” Holding, will be handled the development of multifunctional modular lidar complex.