Jaxon Caines, technology reporter, Hart Energy: I’m Jaxon Caines and I’m here at the 2024 URTeC Conference in Houston to talk about some of the latest in unconventional resources and technology. First, we’re going to talk with QuantumPro and learn about their new FloTrac technology.

JC: I’m here with John Oliver and Quan Guo of Quantum Pro here at URTeC 2024, and we want to talk with them about their new FloTrac technology. So start things off. What is FloTrac and how does it really work?

John Oliver, board member and advisor, QuantumPro: So Jaxon, FloTrac is a solid nanoparticle tracer, which we use in downhole conditions to map well flow and also cross-well communications. So it’s a new generation tracer, different from traditional chemical tracers and we’ve used it in applications in oil and gas, CCUS, geothermal—in many different applications.

JC: Now, why would you say that the industry needs this technology?

JO: Well, we need to understand what’s happening downhole in more granular detail. So this allows us to actually individually see where the well is flowing, either in the case of oil and gas wells, where the flow is coming from, or in the case of a geothermal well or a carbon storage well, where the injection is going to.

JC: Now, who are some of the clients you guys work with and where is FloTrac being used?

JO: Well, we use FloTrac across the world actually—here in the U.S., we have a presence in Saudi, Oman, the Middle East and in Kazakhstan as well. And in terms of customers, everybody from the small private equity based customers up to the Exxon Mobil, Repsol, BP and the majors.

JC: Now, question for you, Quan. What are some of the next steps you guys look to take with FloTrac?

Quan Guo, geomechanics advisor, QuantumPro: Yeah, we are working on several fronts. Let me focus on one. We just introduced recently to get the cluster level or perforation level of flow mapping. And in this case we embedded the tracer into the charge liners and during the charge detonation, the liner collapses and injects the tracer into the formation. And so we get the cluster level or perforation level of monitoring. This can be used for producers, injectors and we are very excited about this new technology.

JC: Okay, and that’s all at URTeC with Quantum Pro.

I’m here at URTeC with Mitch Alvis of Grace Instrument. Grace Instrument has a number of different products, but today we want to talk about their M2200. So Mitch, what exactly is the M2200 and why would you say the industry needs this?

Mitch Alvis, technical sales, Grace Instrument: Well, thank you Jaxon. Appreciate your time. And yes, so drilling is obviously one of the most important operations in the oil and gas industry. And experts have long dreamed about being able to simulate the actual drilling operations before drilling the well. Basically this instrument can save costs as well as improve performance by being able to predict drilling, torque, fluid loss and drag parameters that are found in the actual formation. But let me just sum it up and say that we’re able to save companies money, training time and lab space because we have three machines in one benchtop unit.

JC: Where is the M2200 being deployed at?

MA: So we actually have been in business for 24 years and we are in labs all over the world internationally and we’re in large to small companies throughout the world.

JC: Man, this seems like you guys got a lot coming up the pipeline. It’s amazing to learn more about you guys. Thank you.

MA: Thank you so much. Appreciate it. Alright,

JC: I’m here at URTeC with Scott McCurdy of Encino Environmental Services and we’re here to learn about their new camera technology. So Scott, what makes your QOGI technology so special and how’s it being used?

Scott McCurdy, CEO, Encino Environmental Services: Sure. First off, thanks for having me. Appreciate you having me. And just five seconds about Encino. Encino is an emissions management solutions provider based here in Houston. First off, with regards to OGI or QOGI, I’ll explain what it is. So OGI stands for 'optical gas imaging' and it’s basically been around in camera technology for a number of years. That in itself is pretty amazing because you’re taking an invisible leak and making it visible through the camera. In fact, here’s one of our QOGI handheld version of our camera that we utilize out in the field every day. Now when you talk about QOGI and add the Q to it, you’re talking about not only seeing that leak but also quantifying that leak. That’s a little bit newer. In fact, this camera and Sensia, who is the manufacturer that we are part of and use their camera technology, was actually the first to integrate the quantification onboard.

That means it’s done in the camera, doesn’t need an external tablet or anything like that to do the quantification as for how we use it in our operations. So we use this handheld technology in the field every day to do leak detection surveys for our customers. There’s also fixed versions of these cameras that can be used for more fixed continuous monitoring for just continuous monitoring for gas detection and quantification, flare monitoring, for destruction removal efficiencies, fire, spills, and then just general surveillance and security applications. In fact, we have a patent on a mobile system where we can take one of the fixed cameras, use it on a trailer with a server and communications and everything to be able to move it around and really provide the most flexibility and efficiency for our customers.

JC: So Scott, why would you say that the industry needs this technology?

SM: Well, this technology is used all over the world first and foremost, but I’ll talk a little bit about regulations. So here in the US obviously there’s been a number of new regulations. Now it’s just over the last couple months and weeks. Most of the regulations tie back to OGI being the standard. And so any alternative technology is typically measured against OGI technology. So customers are starting to see where they have to do surveys of more assets. They have to do surveys more frequently, but they also have things now like the Waste Emissions Charge that came out of the IRA that they try to reduce. The main purpose of all this is to move beyond emissions factors. Typically, the EPA or other organizations would have a factor that you apply to a certain piece of equipment based on where it was, what it did and how long it ran. And so now basically companies want to know what it’s actually emitting and not just use that factor. And so utilizing technology like our handheld, our fixed cameras, that’s a great way to start to do that.

JC: Now what are some of the next steps you guys look to take with this technology?

SM: Sure. So first off, I talk to customers all the time and they hear about what we do and they say, ‘Oh wow, you guys do everything!’ But we don’t really do everything. But we do a lot of things and typically a company might go to five or six different vendors to find everything that we do, and then you multiply that by the number of basins they operate in and they might have 15 or 20. And so I’d say more integration. We provide satellite methane monitoring, and so integrating the satellite for high revisitation, kind of a super emitter program with a fixed camera that’s doing more continuous monitoring and constantly looking for leaks down to the handheld cameras where we can provide the boots on the ground service to continually be looking for leaks or go find leaks that a sensor or something that can tell you there is a leak but not where might find. And so that’s number one.

I would say the benefit to our customers with that is being able to do more with the same company and more with less. Our goal is really to not only have cutting edge technology for our customers, but also give them insights, give them information, help them learn and understand the regulations and have actionable insights to reduce their emissions.

JC: Well, Scott, it was a pleasure to learn about the QOGI camera. Thank you for your time.

SM: Absolutely. Thank you for having me. Appreciate it.

JC: I’m Jaxon Caines and that’s a wrap here at URTeC. Check back with us at hartenergy.com/EP as we drill into the tech that fuels the oil patch.

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