Methane, ethane and propane detection using a compact quartz enhanced photoacoustic sensor and a single interband cascade laser

•We realized a quartz-enhanced photoacoustic (QEPAS) sensor for methane, ethane and propane detection using a single intercascade laser source.•We achieved for ethane a QEPAS record sensitivity of 7 ppb in 1-second integration time.•Detection of propane with QEPAS technique is reported for the first time.•We demonstrated methane, ethane and propane detection at atmospheric pressure avoiding the use of pump and pressure controller systems. Hydrocarbon detection in the gas phase represents a powerful tool to guide oil exploration and production operations for the oil & gas industry. This application requires highly sensitive, selective and robust spectroscopic techniques. In this work, a quartz-enhanced photoacoustic sensor system designed to detect methane (C1), ethane (C2) and propane (C3), employing a single interband cascade laser emitting in the spectral range 3.342–3.349 μm, is reported. Detection levels in the part-per billion concentration range for C1 and C2 and a few parts per million for C3 were achieved. Measurements at both low and atmospheric pressures were carried out for mixtures simulating typical downhole hydrocarbon concentrations.