For companies in the Americas operating in sectors such as LNG or oil and gas, achieving emissions targets may not be as simple as meeting regulatory compliance. These critical guidelines are at the heart of maintaining operational efficiency and reliability. Score, a key player in emission reductions and valve management, has paved the way in ensuring that its clients meet their sustainability goals while promoting profitability.
Fugitive Emissions Journal had the pleasure of speaking to Andrew Stephen, Americas Business Unit Director, Trevor Fleming, Global Emissions Lead, & Dave Anderson, Technology, Market and Collaborations Lead about Score’s impact in the industry, its approach to emission mitigation, and carrying a 40-year legacy through the era of digitalization.
By Shopia Ketheeswararajah
Impacting the Industry
Since the company’s inception in Scotland,1982, Score has made a name for itself in the industry for its engineered solutions and valve management services. At its core, Score consistently proves its dedication to its people and partnerships by utilizing real world-data and top-of-the line solutions. Over the years, the company has proven its impact in several industries across the board providing services from valve engineering expertise and independent supply, to manufacturing and testing capabilities.
Score’s work across the Americas portrays the benefits of its robust and innovative emissions elimination services, highlighting its role as a trusted partner in achieving client’s goals pertaining to emission reduction. Through a series of case studies, the company demonstrated its commitment to delivering sound results in both mitigating unwanted emissions and aiding their clients in meeting regulations while implementing annual savings.
“We had a company reach out to us about poorly performing valves that were leaking gas to flare lines. The task at hand was to repair the leaking valves, except the operator did not know which of the 62 valves in the process were faulty. Score’s service engineer completed a valve condition monitoring survey, using their own inhouse developed precision leak detection tool. The MIDAS Meter® positively identified the leak sources and volumes of the faulty components. Over a period of four days, where 62 valves were surveyed, a total of 8 valves were found to be leaking product to flare. Swift repairs led to a significant reduction in emissions and resulted in USD $342,000 annual cost savings for the client. This was a 1,200% return on the investment,” shared Fleming.
Score’s expertise was further demonstrated at a process plant where deferred maintenance had led to escalating emissions. “In this case, a non-invasive survey of 304 valves had identified that 44 of them were leaking, while three of the valves were contributing to 66% of the total emissions,” Fleming stated. The team prioritized repairs on these critical valves that resulted in a 66% reduction in emissions and the recovery of approximately 700 tons of flare gas per year.
Delivering measurable outcomes is critical when dealing with emissions abatement. Fleming goes on to explain another compelling case where the company had utilized equipment from its Emissions Elimination offering. This included optical gas imaging, gas detection, ultrasonics and the MIDAS Meter®. “Score was commissioned to conduct an emissions survey on 29 valves at an LNG facility. These valves were suspected to be leaking but the survey had shown that none of them were passing. The team reviewed all vent tie in points, identifying 89 valves. Finally, a closed valve was identified to be passing and the source of venting. A pressure build-up test confirmed the valve was leaking significantly and we had decided to employ a DIAL (Differential Absorption Lidar) survey which validated the MIDAS Meter® leak,” he said. By isolating this valve, Score successfully eliminated nearly 15,000 tons of CO2 annually. “This had saved the client nearly USD $800,000 a year,” he added.
Emissions Elimination Services
Score’s all-encompassing approach to emission reduction sets the company apart from its competitors. The company’s services go beyond leak detection; they encompass the entire lifecycle of emissions management, from initial detection and quantification to the engineering of long-term solutions. “This model not only ensures compliance with stringent regulatory standards but also positions clients to achieve their broader sustainability goals,” said Anderson.
Central to Score’s offering is its Emission Elimination solution, which integrates proprietary technologies like the MIDAS Meter®. “This valve leak detection tool enables for precise identification of emissions, allowing for clients to address even the most challenging leaks,” added Anderson. Complementing this technology are the company’s strategies that range from temporary fixes to long term solutions, all designed to engineer out recurring failures, reducing long term operational costs.
A key differentiator for Score is its commitment to continuous improvement. “Recognizing that emission reduction is an ongoing process, we focus on engineering out solutions that address the root causes of leaks. Whether we go through temporary repairs that sustain operations until scheduled outages or permanent modifications that eliminate leak sources, our approach ensures lasting and improving results in emission reduction.”
The integration of digital solutions has also been at the forefront of Score’s service offering. “In collaboration with a third-party technology provider, asset55, we have spent the past few years developing a unique software solution that manages the entire emissions elimination process, from data collection to regulatory reporting through to management of emissions elimination. This platform has bridged several gaps to not only streamline operations but to provide clients with the insights needed to prevent future emissions,” Anderson said.
Carrying Its Legacy in The Americas
Score has evolved from the small enterprise it once was in 1982, into one of the key players in Intelligent Valve Management™ and Emissions Reduction. “We have operations in over 30 locations worldwide and a strong presence in the Americas,” said Stephen. The acquisition of Score by SCF Partners in 2019 marked a significant milestone in its growth journey across the Americas. “This has enabled us to expand our footprint and strengthen our service offering. This led us to the direction we head in today.” Score holds strategic partnerships with key players across the entire supply chain of the valve industry and continues to drive innovation with emerging technologies.
“Integrating the differentiated services in the Americas for client related preventative maintenance activities and their operating systems, alongside our bespoke systems as well, enables us to provide a cohesiveness to the operators,” said Stephen. In the U.S. Market, it is vital to have a process for emissions detection, quantification, reporting, and repair work. All these elements are fixed requirements and there has never been a more impending need for companies like ours to supply an all-encompassing approach,” he added.
Score is proud of its ability to guide clients from end to end, keeping in mind the regulatory frameworks that must be honored to ensure they meet these expectations. “This approach has aided in developing a trusted relationship with our customers, and they are comfortable with allowing us to take the ideas we propose to them all the way through to the delivery of our services to avoid any penalties,” Stephen said.
The company’s strategic growth in the Americas has been a key focus for several years. Score has significantly expanded its footprint across the region, with major operations in Canada, the U.S., and Trinidad & Tobago. This expansion has been driven by a commitment to building on existing upstream, midstream, downstream and defence markets and focused Energy Transition market growth in LNG, CCUS and Renewables and reducing GHG emissions across the America’s region.
Final Words
Looking ahead, Score is dedicated to continuous success in their evolving markets. The company’s ability to provide end-to-end solutions through detecting, quantifying, repairing, and preventing emissions, sets the company apart from its competitors in the energy sector.
By consistently developing new technologies and adapting new methods, the company addresses the immediate needs of its clients and contributes to the broader goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions. As the global push towards net-zero emissions and a sustainable future intensifies, Score continues to provide the tools and expertise necessary to achieve a positive and lasting impact.
The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the profiled company and may not reflect the position of Fugitive Emissions Journal.