OGI (Optical Gas Imaging) cameras are today one of the most advanced technologies for the visual detection of gas leaks and fugitive emissions: a non-invasive, precise, and safe solution.
How an OGI camera works
OGI technology is based on a fundamental physical principle: gases absorb infrared radiation in well-defined spectral bands. OGI cameras are specialized IR cameras operating in the MWIR (Mid-Wave Infrared) or LWIR (Long-Wave Infrared) bands, where gases such as methane, sulfur hexafluoride (SF₆), and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) exhibit strong absorption bands.
Operation takes place in three stages:
- Spectral detection: the IR sensor, equipped with dedicated filters, captures infrared radiation in the specific band of the target gas.
- Contrast processing: image processing algorithms detect the variation in radiation caused by the gas against the background, creating a visible thermal contrast.
- Visualization: the gas appears as a moving "cloud" or "smoke" in the video, even at low concentrations and from safe distances.
OGI vs. conventional thermal cameras: the difference
The fundamental difference lies in spectral selectivity. While standard thermal cameras measure surface temperatures across a broad IR spectrum, OGI cameras are designed specifically to visualize invisible gases, using filters targeted at the absorption bands of the target gases.
Industrial applications
Oil & gas
In the oil & gas sector, OGI cameras are indispensable tools for monitoring methane and hydrocarbon emissions:
- LDAR (Leak Detection and Repair) inspections on wellheads, manifolds, compressors, and flanges;
- monitoring of storage tanks, flares, and transport infrastructure;
- emission control at offshore facilities and refineries;
- leak detection on pipelines and compressor stations.
Electric utilities
Utilities use OGI cameras primarily to detect SF₆ leaks in high-voltage equipment, such as circuit breakers and GIS (Gas Insulated Switchgear) systems.
Petrochemical
In petrochemical plants, controlling VOC emissions is at once an environmental, safety, and regulatory compliance issue.
Why it pays off
The ability to operate at a distance and without direct contact makes OGI cameras particularly well suited to inspections in hazardous or hard-to-reach areas. The result is twofold: greater safety for operators and a reduction in fugitive emissions, with immediate economic benefits from product that would otherwise be lost.
Considering a leak detection campaign at your plant? Talk to us or explore all our OGI services.
