EPA Standards (NSPS OOOOb / EG OOOOc) & Appendix K OGI Protocol
As part of its ongoing strategy to curb greenhouse gas and volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has established rigorous standards under New Source Performance Standards (NSPS) OOOOb and Emissions Guidelines (EG) OOOOc. These frameworks mandate aggressive leak detection and repair (LDAR) initiatives across upstream and midstream oil and gas facilities. Central to this regulatory action is the implementation of Appendix K, a highly structured prescriptive protocol defining the quality assurance and operational criteria required when using Optical Gas Imaging (OGI) technology for emission surveys.
While Appendix K introduces mandatory senior oversight and performance verification, compliance with Opgal’s OGI EyeCGas Multi technololgy does not require operational downtime. Advanced solutions by Opgal, provide built-in features to streamline the field workflow:
Real-Time Remote Streaming: Facilitates remote inspection sharing worldwide, minimizing onsite
personnel requirements and streamlining auditing and operator training.
Automated Field Verification: Built-in workflows handle GPS route mapping to confirm full assetcoverage, alongside automated daily QA checks (NETD/NECL verification) directly inside the camera to eliminate the logistical hassle of carrying external propane test cylinders.
A core element of Appendix K is establishing strict detection thresholds for target gases under specific environmental baselines. When evaluating equipment capabilities against these standards at identical field conditions, a 2.0-meter viewing distance, a temperature differential Delta T of 5.0 0C, and wind speeds under 1.0 m/s, there is a massive margin between regulatory minimums and advanced Opgal’s OGI performance.
Operational Impact: Because the Opgal’s OGI camera actual sensitivity is orders of magnitude higher than the benchmark, it creates an exceptionally wide operating envelope. In practice, this means the camera remains highly effective and fully compliant even as field variables degrade (e.g., lower Delta T or higher wind speed), drastically reducing LDAR surveys operational downtime and the necessity of time-consuming daily field checks.
