The State Oil Company of Azerbaijan (SOCAR), in collaboration with Italian company Italgas, has begun using advanced Picaro technology to detect and eliminate methane leaks, SOCAR Vice President Afgan Isayev said at a session on SOCAR's progress in decarbonization at COP29, according to Report.
"We are already implementing this technology in Baku. The pilot project covers 4,000 kilometers of gas pipelines, with 850 kilometers inspected so far. When Picaro detects leaks, our teams with special Picaro devices are dispatched to precisely locate and eliminate them. This is just the beginning. We plan to implement smart meters, artificial intelligence technologies, and are ready to share progress at COP30 next year," said Isayev.
According to him, SOCAR is also focusing on improving its Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification (MRV) system. "After analyzing our existing system at the end of last year, we concluded it wasn't sufficiently effective and analytical. We recently selected a new MRV system, signed a contract, and began its implementation. It will be integrated with our methane artificial intelligence system to provide timely and accurate information for decision-making," noted Isayev.
Using a comprehensive approach including satellites, drones, and ground instruments (such as OGI cameras), SOCAR has already identified about 1,100 leaks, corresponding to losses of approximately 100 million cubic meters of gas. To date, 350 leaks have been eliminated, and the company plans to increase this number to 400 in the coming months, with full resolution of the problem by the end of next year, said the State Oil Company's vice president.
Isayev also noted that SOCAR is actively exploring opportunities for low-carbon business development: "We are considering two approaches - developing technologies and skills independently or collaborating with partners. Our choice will be aimed at accelerating the implementation of decarbonization solutions."