John Machacek, Chief Innovation Officer for the Greater Fargo Moorhead Economic Development Corporation, has worked with countless startups throughout our community over the years. He knows their ups, and their downs, but most of all, he knows the questions to ask them. Here are John Machacek’s 10 questions for Troy and Emmy Vareberg, co-founders of Blue Comply.
1. First of all, congratulations on the recent win in the regional Pegasus Tech Ventures Startup World Cup pitch competition. I hope the Grand Finale pitch event in San Francisco goes well and is fruitful. To start with this interview, will you please tell me your Blue Comply elevator pitch?
Blue Comply is committed to offering advanced technology solutions that help industries detect and mitigate methane emissions. Our patented device integrates multiple sensors with intelligent data reporting to provide real-time insights on equipment health, particularly thief hatches—one of the key sources of methane leaks. By enabling faster detection, we help reduce environmental impact and minimize operational risks.
2. To what extent are methane leaks an issue at oil wells?
Fugitive methane emissions are a critical issue in the oil and gas industry, leading to both financial losses and environmental challenges. Oil producers lose 1.5% of the methane they produce on average from fugitive emissions, costing them billions of dollars each year in lost products. The high potency of methane as a greenhouse gas and its significant effect on the environment have led to new government regulatory fines, placing greater pressure on producers to mitigate emissions. Thief hatches, located on top of storage tanks, are one of the primary sources of methane leaks on oil sites.
We provide precise, real-time detection of fugitive methane from thief hatches, enabling oil and gas producers to respond quickly with corrective measures and achieve their emission-reduction goals. By reducing emissions, our technology helps them minimize loss of sellable products, remain compliant with industry regulations, avoid costly fines, and reduce the US’s environmental impact.
3. For someone who doesn’t know much about the oil and gas industry, what do you mean by a thief hatch?
A thief hatch is an access door on the top of an oil storage tank which allows for typical oil site procedures, such as inspection and sampling. Through normal operations, these hatches can be inadvertently left open, or unlatched, which results in unintentional emissions. Internal components of thief hatches also experience wear and tear, leading to additional sources of leaks. Our third-party-tested, patented device attaches to the top of the thief hatch and monitors methane levels and hatch position to identify potential leaks. We send this data wirelessly, either to a cloud-based dashboard via cellular communications, or directly to a producer’s system via LoRa, to intelligently provide insights and alerts, enabling producers to quickly and confidently address emissions from thief hatches.
