SeekOps Inc., a provider of sensor technology to detect, localize and quantify natural gas emissions through drone-based systems, has secured funding from two strategic investors as part of its Series A-1 fundraising.
These investors include the OGCI Climate Investments fund and Equinor Technology Ventures (ETV), the venture arm of Norwegian multinational energy company Equinor.
SeekOps was formed in 2017 as a technology spin-off of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. The company manufactures miniature gas sensors, called SeekIR, and integrates them with drones, providing emissions inspections in a fraction of the time required by traditional ground surveys.
SeekOps’ capabilities were validated during the 2018 Mobile Monitoring Challenge, an independent evaluation led by Stanford University and the Environmental Defense Fund, as the top-performing technology for emissions localization and quantification on unmanned aircraft systems.
“The use of SeekIR precision sensors on drones provides the oil and gas industry with an efficient solution for emissions inspection that saves operators time and money,” comments Andrew Aubrey, CEO of SeekOps. “This value has been realized by multiple oil and gas customers as a prime business case – early adoption is strong in U.S. and international markets.”
SeekOps currently offers services in the upstream and downstream oil and gas markets. In addition, the company’s growth plans for 2020 will emphasize product sales and real-time data reporting. The SeekIR product line will include handheld and vehicle-mount sensors to increase emissions measurement and reporting standards across the industry for environment, health and safety.
Equinor, a member company of OGCI CI, has been an early adopter of SeekOps’ technology since 2017. Equinor previously invested in SeekOps through ETV in June 2018 and also participated in this follow-on round.
“Equinor remains excited about the company’s development and continues to follow its growth with great interest. We are pleased to be joined by OGCI CI as co-investor in SeekOps and look forward to working together in the future,” says Rannfrid Skjervold, managing director of ETV.
