Summary
Leak detection and repair programs are most effective when monitoring is consistent, repeatable, and detects small leaks as well as large leaks. Modern aerial methane detection technology using LiDAR gives operators a superior method for monitoring emissions across wide areas on a predictable cadence, compared to sole reliance on periodic ground inspections that are prone to missing major sources of leaks from equipment such as flares, tanks, and compressors. By integrating Gas Mapping LiDAR® (GML) as a primary recurring detection method, operators can establish a steady rhythm of detection, prioritization, and repair that scales with their assets and supports long-term methane management goals.
Key Takeaways
- Routine aerial surveys provide superior visibility compared to ground inspections
- Aerial detection scales more efficiently than ground-only LDAR as asset footprints grow
- GML is especially well suited to be a primary recurring detection technology
- A recurring survey cadence is critical for catching fugitive emissions and confirming repair efficacy
- Flexible survey schedules allow operators to align monitoring with operational goals
- Routine aerial data improves leak repair prioritization, repair efficiency, overall understanding of emissions sources, timing, and locations, and reporting confidence
Why Does “Routine” Matters in LDAR?
Methane emissions are not static. Conditions change, equipment degrades, and weather or maintenance activities can introduce new leaks between scheduled inspections. Yet many LDAR programs rely heavily on episodic ground surveys that require extensive windshield time, personnel resources, and have difficulty in detecting emissions from major sources of production sector emissions including flares, tanks, and compressors. Traditional ground-based LDAR surveys provide valuable detail but are costly and time-consuming.
Routine aerial scans introduce efficient, actionable data that allows prioritization and direction of ground-based follow-up work. Aerial scans can provide insight into the effectiveness of repairs, and an understanding of emissions trends enterprise-wide.This is why routine aerial surveys for LDAR programs have become an important evolution. They’re not a replacement for ground scans, but a stabilizing backbone for prioritizing ground scan follow-up.
Why Is Aerial Detection Well Suited for Recurring Use?
A detection method only makes sense as a recurring tool if it can scale, repeat, and deliver consistent, high-fidelity data without excessive operational burden. Aerial LiDAR meets those criteria in ways ground-only approaches cannot.
Aircraft can survey hundreds of sites, hundreds of miles of pipeline, and dispersed facilities in a single day. That makes it practical to repeat surveys monthly or quarterly without dramatically increasing cost or field hours. Over time, this repeatability creates a reliable baseline against which operators can track changes and reductions in emissions across equipment, assets, and basins.
Why Does GML Works Best as the Primary Detection Technology?
Not all aerial detection technologies are equally suited for routine use. Bridger’s GML stands out because it delivers more than a binary “leak/no leak” signal.
GML provides:
- High-resolution plume imagery that shows how methane is behaving
- Sensitivity to both small leaks and large emitters in the same flight
- Accurate quantification insights that help determine urgency of repair
- Geo-referenced outputs that integrate directly into LDAR workflows
Because of this, GML data becomes increasingly valuable when repeated frequently. Each scan adds context, trend data, and operational insight, so operators can confidently report and track their emissions reductions, while working to proactively prevent future emissions before they start.
Setting the Right Survey Cadence
One of the strengths of routine aerial surveys is flexibility. There is no single “correct” schedule. Cadence should reflect operational realities and program goals.
Many operators adopt:
- Quarterly surveys to align with reporting cycles and seasonal changes
- Monthly surveys across higher-risk facilities or during periods of operational change
- Event-driven surveys following major storms, maintenance outages, or prior to acquisitions
Because aerial surveys cover large areas efficiently, cadence can be adjusted without redesigning the entire LDAR program. Operators can increase frequency in certain basins or corridors while maintaining a lighter schedule elsewhere.
This flexibility allows aerial detection to adapt as assets grow, priorities shift, or regulatory expectations evolve.
How Do Routine Aerial Surveys Strengthen LDAR Workflows?
Routine aerial detection changes how LDAR programs function day to day.
Instead of sending ground crews out to every site, teams use aerial results to focus effort where it matters most. Repeated surveys help distinguish persistent issues from one-time events, and trends become clearer over time.
In practice, operators use routine aerial data to:
- Prioritize repairs based on emissions magnitude as well as proximity to high consequence areas
- Reduce windshield time by directing crews to confirmed problem areas
- Create efficient work plans by optimizing travel for lower-priority repairs
- Verify fixes were effective in subsequent scans
- Identify recurring problems, such as specific equipment or facilities
This approach mirrors how many teams already use aerial detection for midstream and remote assets.
Why Recurring Aerial Detection Improves Confidence in Reporting
For precise methane reporting, consistency matters. A single snapshot can be useful, but a time series is far more defensible and insightful. Routine aerial surveys create that time series. Over months and years, operators build a documented record of emissions behavior across their system.
This supports:
- Emissions inventories and methane intensity tracking
- ESG disclosures
- Alignment with OGMP 2.0 principles
- Regulatory conversations grounded in evidence
A Practical Backbone for Modern LDAR Programs
Routine aerial surveys belong in LDAR programs because they provide what ground inspections alone cannot: granular data with wide-area visibility that scales with operations. When aerial LiDAR serves as the primary recurring detection technology, operators gain not just coverage, but clarity—about where leaks are, how significant they are, and how they change over time.
Used to inform ground-based repair planning and verification, routine aerial detection helps LDAR programs become more efficient, more resilient, and better aligned with the realities of modern methane management.
To learn more about how GML supports recurring detection strategies, visit Bridger Photonics.
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