Apparatus and methods for reducing fugitive gas emissions at oil facilities

1. A pollution monitor comprising:

a housing configurable between:

an as-installed condition; and

an upended condition different than the as-installed condition;

a circuit board positioned inside the housing;

a pollution sensor positioned inside the housing and in electrical communication with the circuit board, wherein the pollution sensor is configured to:

sense a characteristic of atmosphere; and

present the characteristic to the circuit board;

an orientation sensor in electrical communication with the circuit board, wherein the orientation sensor is configured to:

obtain a first physical orientation and a second physical orientation of the housing corresponding to the as-installed condition and the upended condition, respectively; and

determine an orientation change from the first physical orientation and the second physical orientation; and

a communications circuit in electrical communication with the circuit board, and communicatively coupled to the orientation sensor;

wherein the circuit board is configured to:

receive from the orientation sensor:

a first signal corresponding to the first physical orientation of the pollution monitor:

a second signal corresponding to the second physical orientation of the pollution monitor, wherein the second signal is different than the first signal;

notify a change of orientation of the pollution monitor to a remote location; and

a notifier configured to create a ticket reporting the change of orientation.

2. The pollution monitor of claim 1 , wherein the as-installed condition is associated with a first bearing, wherein the first bearing is an angle relative to due North.

3. The pollution monitor of claim 1 and further comprising:

a physical sampling system:

in electrical communication with the circuit board and configured to:

flow a sample of air, fluid, or soil into the physical sampling system; and

capture and preserve the sample of air in the physical sampling system.

4. A pollution monitor of claim 1 and further comprising:

a housing configurable between:

an as-installed condition; and

an upended condition different than the as-installed condition;

a circuit board positioned inside the housing;

a pollution sensor positioned inside the housing and in electrical communication with the circuit board, wherein the pollution sensor is configured to:

sense a characteristic of atmosphere; and

present the characteristic to the circuit board;

an orientation sensor in electrical communication with the circuit board, wherein the orientation sensor is configured to:

obtain a first physical orientation and a second physical orientation of the housing corresponding to the as-installed condition and the upended condition, respectively; and

determine an orientation change from the first physical orientation and the second physical orientation;

a communications circuit in electrical communication with the circuit board, and communicatively coupled to the orientation sensor;

wherein the circuit board is configured to:

receive from the orientation sensor:

a first signal corresponding to the first physical orientation of the pollution monitor:

a second signal corresponding to the second physical orientation of the pollution monitor, wherein the second signal is different than the first signal;

notify a change of orientation of the pollution monitor to a remote location;

a solar panel attached to the pollution monitor;

an expansion connector formed on the housing and in electrical communication with the circuit board; and

a power conductor electrically interfaced with the solar panel and the expansion connector.

5. A pollution monitor comprising:

a housing configurable between:

an as-installed condition; and

an upended condition different than the as-installed condition;

a circuit board positioned inside the housing;

a pollution sensor positioned inside the housing and in electrical communication with the circuit board, wherein the pollution sensor is configured to:

sense a characteristic of atmosphere; and

present the characteristic to the circuit board;

an orientation sensor in electrical communication with the circuit board, wherein the orientation sensor is configured to:

obtain a first physical orientation and a second physical orientation of the housing corresponding to the as-installed condition and the upended condition, respectively; and

determine an orientation change from the first physical orientation and the second physical orientation;

a communications circuit in electrical communication with the circuit board, and communicatively coupled to the orientation sensor;

wherein the circuit board is configured to:

receive from the orientation sensor:

a first signal corresponding to the first physical orientation of the pollution monitor:

a second signal corresponding to the second physical orientation of the pollution monitor, wherein the second signal is different than the first signal;

notify a change of orientation of the pollution monitor to a remote location;

wherein in the as-installed condition, the pollution monitor is located and oriented for solar charging and atmosphere sensing efficacy; and

wherein in the upended condition, the pollution monitor is dislodged and the solar charging and the atmosphere sensing are compromised.

6. A pollution monitor comprising:

a housing configurable between:

an as-installed condition; and

an upended condition different than the as-installed condition;

a circuit board positioned inside the housing;

a pollution sensor positioned inside the housing and in electrical communication with the circuit board, wherein the pollution sensor is configured to:

sense a characteristic of atmosphere; and

present the characteristic to the circuit board;

an orientation sensor in electrical communication with the circuit board, wherein the orientation sensor is configured to:

obtain a first physical orientation and a second physical orientation of the housing corresponding to the as-installed condition and the upended condition, respectively; and

determine an orientation change from the first physical orientation and the second physical orientation;

a communications circuit in electrical communication with the circuit board, and communicatively coupled to the orientation sensor;

wherein the circuit board is configured to:

receive from the orientation sensor:

a first signal corresponding to the first physical orientation of the pollution monitor:

a second signal corresponding to the second physical orientation of the pollution monitor, wherein the second signal is different than the first signal;

notify a change of orientation of the pollution monitor to a remote location;

a notifier configured to create a ticket reporting the change of orientation; and

a proximity-orientation-movement circuit connected to the housing and in electrical communication with the circuit board, wherein the proximity-orientation-movement circuit is configured to detect at least one of:

a movement of orientation of the pollution monitor; or

a movement of location of the pollution monitor.

7. The pollution monitor of claim 6 ,

wherein the proximity-orientation-movement circuit is communicatively coupled to the communications circuit; and

wherein the communications circuit is further configured to:

report at least one of the movement of the orientation and the movement of the location of the housing to the remote location.

8. A pollution monitor comprising:

a housing configurable between:

an as-installed condition; and

an upended condition different than the as-installed condition;

a circuit board positioned inside the housing;

a pollution sensor positioned inside the housing and in electrical communication with the circuit board, wherein the pollution sensor is configured to:

sense a characteristic of atmosphere; and

present the characteristic to the circuit board;

an orientation sensor in electrical communication with the circuit board, wherein the orientation sensor is configured to:

obtain a first physical orientation and a second physical orientation of the housing corresponding to the as-installed condition and the upended condition, respectively; and

determine an orientation change from the first physical orientation and the second physical orientation; and

a communications circuit in electrical communication with the circuit board, and communicatively coupled to the orientation sensor;

wherein the circuit board is configured to:

receive from the orientation sensor:

a first signal corresponding to the first physical orientation of the pollution monitor:

a second signal corresponding to the second physical orientation of the pollution monitor, wherein the second signal is different than the first signal;

notify a change of orientation of the pollution monitor to a remote location;

a notifier configured to create a ticket reporting the change of orientation; and

at least one status indicator to generate an indication corresponding to a desired orientation of the pollution monitor.

9. The pollution monitor of claim 8 , wherein the indication is one of a visual indication and an auditory indication;

wherein the visual indication comprises flashing a light emitting diode (LED); and

wherein the auditory indication comprises a sounding a series of beeps.

10. A method of reporting an orientation change of a pollution monitor, the method comprising:

providing the pollution monitor at a predetermined location in a facility, wherein the pollution monitor comprises:

a housing configurable between:

an as-installed condition; and

an upended condition different than the as-installed condition;

a circuit board positioned inside the housing;

a pollution sensor positioned inside the housing and in electrical communication with the circuit board, the pollution sensor configured to:

sense a characteristic of atmosphere; and

present the characteristic to the circuit board;

an orientation sensor in electrical communication with the circuit board, the orientation sensor configured to:

obtain a first physical orientation and a second physical orientation of the housing corresponding to the as-installed condition and the upended condition, respectively; and

determine an orientation change based on comparison between the first physical orientation and the second physical orientation;

a communications circuit positioned inside the housing, in electrical communication with the circuit board, and communicatively coupled to the orientation sensor, the communications circuit configured to:

receive from the orientation sensor:

a first signal corresponding to the first physical orientation;

a second signal corresponding to the second physical orientation, wherein the second signal is different than the first signal; and

a third signal corresponding to the orientation change; and

report the orientation change determined by the orientation sensor to a remote location;

retrieving the first physical orientation corresponding to the as-installed condition, obtained at a time of installing of the pollution monitor;

dynamically receiving the second physical orientation of the housing corresponding to the upended condition of the housing;

determining an orientation change based on comparison between the first physical orientation and the second physical orientation of the housing; and

reporting the orientation change to the remote location, wherein the reporting the orientation change comprises creating a ticket.

11. The method of claim 10 ,

wherein in the as-installed condition, the housing is located and oriented to increase solar charging and atmosphere sensing efficacy; and

wherein in the upended condition, the housing is dislodged and the solar charging and the atmosphere sensing are compromised.

12. The method of claim 10 further comprising:

detecting, by a proximity-orientation-movement circuit, at least one of:

a movement of orientation of the housing; or

a movement of location of the housing;

wherein the proximity-orientation-movement circuit is connected to the housing and is in electrical communication with the circuit board; and

reporting to the remote location, by the communications circuit, at least one of:

the movement of orientation; and

the movement of location of the housing;

wherein the proximity-orientation-movement circuit is communicatively coupled to the communications circuit.

13. The method of claim 10 further comprising:

generating, by at least one status indicator, an indication related to a desired orientation of the housing.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the indication is one of a visual indication and an auditory indication;

wherein the visual indication comprises flashing a light emitting diode (LED); and

wherein the auditory indication comprises a sounding a series of beeps.

15. The method of claim 13 further comprising:

transferring the indication to the remote location over a wireless communication means.

16. A method of reporting an orientation change of a pollution monitor, the method comprising:

providing the pollution monitor at a predetermined location in a facility, wherein the pollution monitor comprises:

a housing configurable between:

an as-installed condition; and

an upended condition different than the as-installed condition;

a circuit board positioned inside the housing;

a pollution sensor positioned inside the housing and in electrical communication with the circuit board, the pollution sensor configured to:

sense a characteristic of atmosphere; and

present the characteristic to the circuit board;

an orientation sensor in electrical communication with the circuit board, the orientation sensor configured to:

obtain a first physical orientation and a second physical orientation of the housing corresponding to the as-installed condition and the upended condition, respectively;

determine an orientation change based on comparison between the first physical orientation and the second physical orientation;

a communications circuit positioned inside the housing, in electrical communication with the circuit board, and communicatively coupled to the orientation sensor, the communications circuit configured to:

receive from the orientation sensor:

a first signal corresponding to the first physical orientation;

a second signal corresponding to the second physical orientation, wherein the second signal is different than the first signal; and

a third signal corresponding to the orientation change; and

report the orientation change determined by the orientation sensor to a remote location;

retrieving the first physical orientation corresponding to the as-installed condition, obtained at a time of installing of the pollution monitor;

dynamically receiving the second physical orientation of the housing corresponding to the upended condition of the housing;

determining an orientation change based on comparison between the first physical orientation and the second physical orientation of the housing; and

reporting the orientation change to the remote location;

wherein the pollution monitor further comprises:

an electronics package disposed in the housing, wherein the electronics package determines a location using trilateration;

wherein the pollution sensor is in electrical communication with the electronics package;

wherein the pollution sensor is configured to output a signal representative of a pollutant concentration; and

a physical sampling system in electrical communication with the electronics package, wherein the physical sampling system is coupled to the pollution monitor via an expansion connector attached to the housing;

wherein the method further comprises:

establishing a rule for invoking a sampling event;

monitoring for breach of the rule;

invoking, upon breach of the rule, the pollution monitor to initiate sampling; and

sampling air pollution by:

capturing a sample of air with the physical sampling system; and

storing the location of the sample of air.

17. A method of installing a pollution monitor in a facility, the method comprising:

provisioning the pollution monitor to be installed in the facility, the pollution monitor comprising:

a housing;

a circuit board positioned inside the housing;

a pollution sensor positioned inside the housing and in electrical communication with the circuit board, the pollution sensor configured to:

sense a characteristic of atmosphere; and

present the characteristic to the circuit board;

an orientation sensor connected to the housing and in electrical communication with the circuit board, wherein the orientation sensor is configured to:

obtain a physical orientation of the housing;

a communications circuit positioned inside the housing, in electrical communication with the circuit board, and communicatively coupled to the orientation sensor, wherein the communications circuit is configured to:

receive, from the orientation sensor, a signal corresponding to the physical orientation of the housing; and

report the physical orientation of the housing to a remote location; and

at least one status indicator to generate an indication related to a desired orientation of the housing;

determining a location in the facility for installing the pollution monitor;

upon determining the location, orienting the pollution monitor in a first orientation;

checking for the indication from the at least one status indicator; and

iteratively reorienting the pollution monitor until the indication from the at least one status indicator is received.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the indication is one of a visual indication and an auditory indication;

wherein the visual indication comprises flashing a light emitting diode (LED); and

wherein the auditory indication comprises a sounding a series of beeps.