Kathairos has emerged as the leading North American solution for methane elimination from pneumatics, with more than 2,400 systems in operation across North America and over 70 major oil and gas producer partners.
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As the oil and gas industry continues to prioritize both emissions reduction and operational reliability, technologies like instrument air (IA) have become widely adopted. Instrument air systems have proven effective in reducing methane emissions from pneumatic devices and are a solid fit for many sites. However, as operators seek to simplify operations, reduce maintenance demands, and improve reliability across a range of environments, there’s growing interest in solutions that offer the same environmental benefits with less complexity and the ability to scale across hundreds of sites. That’s where Kathairos provides the right solution — delivering zero-emission performance with a streamlined, maintenance-free design suitable for both conventional and challenging field conditions.
Purpose-Built for Harsh Environments
While instrument air systems work well in easy to access, controlled sites, they often require a network of supporting infrastructure: compressors, dryers, power sources, and filtration. In remote or extreme weather field locations, this level of complexity can make IA systems challenging to deploy and sustain.
Kathairos offers a different approach — one engineered specifically for field reliability and scale. With no moving parts, no power requirement, and no complicated subsystems, Kathairos is a clean, self-contained solution that minimizes risk and maximizes uptime. It’s a “set-it-and-forget-it” technology that aligns with the demands of modern operations in rugged terrain.
"I like to say it's a simple solution to a difficult problem. It just works. It works for us,” said BJ Carney, VP of Geoscience and Innovation, Northeast Natural Energy, in our "I like to say it's a simple solution to a difficult problem. It just works. It works for us,” said BJ Carney, VP of Geoscience and Innovation, Northeast Natural Energy, in our Energy Influencer partner video.
Clean Gas, Reliable Operation
Instrument air is typically filtered and dried, but it can still carry trace moisture or particulates — factors that can affect valve performance over time, especially in freezing conditions. Kathairos uses liquid nitrogen, an ultra-pure, dry, inert gas that eliminates this risk.
Because liquid nitrogen is inherently better for operations, valves stay cleaner longer, and instrumentation runs more consistently. For operators, that means fewer performance issues and less need for intervention, even in the most challenging climates.
No Maintenance, No Emissions
A key benefit of the Kathairos system is that it requires no operator maintenance. From the first call to installation takes less than 4 weeks, and the system can be simply tied-in to existing infrastructure, no site modifications or personnel needed. Once installed, it simply runs — no filters to replace, no compressors to service, and no energy systems to monitor. That simplicity translates directly into operational efficiency and cost savings.
Just as important, the system produces zero emissions. There are no combustion byproducts, no greenhouse gases — just clean, inert venting that meets even the most stringent environmental standards.
Supporting More Uptime and Production
Reliability is central to profitability. When pneumatic systems are disrupted by equipment issues, IA power supply interruptions, or line contamination, operators can face unplanned downtime. With Kathairos, fewer moving parts and no dependence on electrical or mechanical systems mean fewer disruptions.
That increased reliability helps keep sites online, instrumentation working, and production flowing. More uptime directly translates to more product to sales and better economics overall. This is important at the site level and becomes critical at the field or enterprise level where the cost or reliability compounds and can equate to millions of dollars a year. What may seem cost effective at the single site level can truly affect an operator's profitability at the enterprise level.
Built-In Data for Emissions Transparency
In addition to providing zero-emission pneumatic power, Kathairos systems are fully integrated with Atlas, Kathairos’ digital platform that captures operational data in real time. This data helps operators track system performance, nitrogen usage, and emission reduction metrics — supporting more informed decisions and transparent reporting. For producers aiming to align with OGMP 2.0, this built-in data stream provides valuable, verifiable insight into emissions reduction efforts related to the venting of pneumatically actuated devices. With Kathairos, compliance isn’t just achievable — it’s automatic.
A Complement to Instrument Air — or a Standalone Solution
For certain applications and facilities, instrument air systems will continue to play an important role in the industry’s journey toward emissions reduction. But they don’t always fit every site or situation. Pneumatic venting is correlated to production of the sites, and instrument air is often a capital purchase made of base assumptions of venting. Kathairos fills an important gap — sized to the site as it currently is, but also easily able to swap tank sizes to account for production changes. Kathairos is a primary solution in remote environments, or as a reliable backup to critical services when instrument air experiences downtime or integration isn’t cost effective.
By offering true zero-emissions performance with ease of deployment, minimal maintenance and ultra reliability, Kathairos brings practical data rich innovation to field pneumatics — helping producers simplify operations, reduce risk, and meet environmental goals.
To explore how Kathairos costs compare to instrument air, visit our reliability calculator.
