Fluorescence of oil is commonly used for oil spill detection, but this involves numerous calibrations by highly trained technical staff to make accurate measurements. Hydrocarbons released into the ocean are a mixture of both volatile (i.e. methane, ethane), and non-volatile (large C-H molecules). Methane as a component of hydrocarbons and as the principle component of natural gas make it the ideal gas to measure in order to determine:

• Pipeline leaks
• Well blow-out spills
• Dispersion of hydrocarbons due to ocean currents
• Bacterial decay of hydrocarbon substances after release, and
• Estimates of leak/spill volumes with knowledge of the Methane to Oil ratio