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West Texas Methane Showdown (WTMS) Performance Test Information:

Summary The overall objective of the Methane Sensor Showdown is to evaluate data capture efficiency, accuracy, and precision of current generation methane sensors operating in unattended mode. Sensors will be placed at fixed sites in the Permian Basin production region for a test period of 6 months. Sensors will be operated unsheltered with no site power provided unless explicitly approved. Sensor accuracy and precision will be evaluated by conducting unannounced single blind challenges and by comparison with continuous measurements made by an Aerodyne Research Incorporated (ARI) QC-TILDAS instrument (Quantum Cascade-Tunable Infrared Laser Differential Absorption Spectrometer), operated by the University of Texas. Data capture efficiency will be calculated as the fraction of time for which valid measurements were made over the test period.

Eligible Sensors Participation in the program will be made by application. Criteria for WTMS participant selection will be determined by project sponsors and technical advisors, and will include criteria for precision, minimum detection threshold, measurement frequency, data communication capabilities, infrastructure requirements, as well as instrument and study participation costs.

Single Blind Challenges The University of Texas will conduct multiple, unannounced sensor challenges over the test period. The challenges will be referred to as "single blind." This means that the University of Texas team will know the timing and expected concentrations for each challenge, but the sensor operator will not be provided this information until after the challenge is completed. One set of challenges will deliver gas with known methane concentration to sensor inlets. Gas concentrations will be varied in these challenges at intervals defined by the temporal resolution of the instrument being tested. A second set of challenges may include controlled releases of known quantities of methane by study partners (oil and gas producers that operate nearby sites). These releases will be conducted under steady wind conditions and will be designed to produce an increase in methane concentration of at least 200 ppb at the test site. Sensor performance in the single blind challenges will be reported immediately after the challenges are completed.

Data Communication Participating sensors should possess the capability to wirelessly transfer measurement records to a device in a University of Texas trailer located at the measurement site, without any physical site access. These data will be stored and up to two modes of data recovery will be used to evaluate sensor performance. The first mode will consist of a daily data download from a web-based system provided by the study team. The data download will be performed by the University of Texas and daily comparisons (performed 5 days per week for 7 days per week of data) of sensor performance (to the ARI QC-TILDAS system) will be provided. A second, back-up data recovery system will be downloaded from on-site storage by University of Texas personnel during the single blind challenges. This back up data recovery will only be employed if web-based data recovery fails.

Reporting Data will be reported to participants in the test program daily, on normal University workdays. Participants will receive data reports for sensors they have provided and the ARI QC-TILDAS data. In addition, the University of Texas will provide informal bi-weekly reports on the performance of all sensors to study sponsors. A final study report will be issued one month after the test period ends.