Overview
| Project No. | 650 |
|---|---|
| Contract No. | DTPH5615T00015L |
| Research Award Recipient | Physical Sciences Inc. 20 New England Business Center Andover, MA 01810-1077 Andover, MA 01810 |
| AOR | James Merritt Joshua Arnold |
| Researcher Contact Info | Michael B. Frish Phone: (978) 738-8252 Fax: (978) 689-3232 E-mail: frish@psicorp.com |
| Peer Review | More than Effective |
| Peer Review | Very Effective |
| Technology Demonstrated | Yes |
|---|---|
| Commercialized (in whole/part) | Yes |
| Commercial Partner | Heath Consultants Inc. https://heathus.com/ |
| Net Improvement | The project supported development of the Heath MobileGuard™ gas leak detection system which consists of a methane/ethane analyzer, GPS, a sonic anemometer and proprietary leak detection software that presents real-time geospatial maps of multiple gas concentrations. The software's sophisticated leak detection algorithm combines the system's measurements of gas concentrations (CH4, C2H6), local coordinates (GPS) and local wind velocity (sonic anemometer) to estimate the leak location. Readings are stored in the device and can be transmitted in real-time to the Cloud for centralized monitoring. The MobileGuard laser-based sensor has a sensitivity and precision more than 3,000 times greater than legacy methods. This enables identification of leaks several hundred feet away from the source. |
| Project Status | Closed |
|---|---|
| Start Fiscal Year | 2015 (09/30/2015) |
| End Fiscal Year | 2018 (03/31/2018) |
| PHMSA $$ Budgeted | $226,794.00 |
Main Objective
The overall objective of this PHMSA R&D project is to develop survey technologies and methodologies to locate and quantify fluxes of non-hazardous natural gas leaks. The successful project outcome will be well documented and verified data demonstrating capabilities and limitations of the techniques will provide a foundation for subsequent leak characterization products and services. These products and methodology for their use will enable ranking leak severity to prioritize remedial actions as well as provide data supporting Greenhouse Gas reporting requirements.
Public Abstract
This research will enhance capabilities to detect, locate, and quantify small natural gas pipeline leaks to prioritize remedial actions. We will assemble and evaluate via field tests a system comprising a cost-effective synthesis of side-scan lasers, sensitive laser-based point sampling, and advanced data processing algorithms installed on a mobile leak survey platform. The research results will lead to advanced products and methodologies to be deployed by the leak survey industry for reducing the environmental impact of natural gas.
Summary and Conclusions
A suite of sensors including an extractive analyzer, fixed and handheld open-path sensors, a variety of other commercial sensors, and a wind sensor were utilized on two survey vehicles. The vehicles operated over a period of 11 months. More than 400 leak survey trips were completed in the areas surrounding Las Vegas, NV. The field prototype imaging leak system was successfully assembled and tested in real-world leak scenarios. Over 51 field tests were conducted and analyzed over a period of 4 days in municipal settings near the SoCal facility in Pico Rivera, CA. Software and graphical user interface were developed and improved over the course of this project to support system control, data acquisition, processing, analysis, recording, GPS positioning, and reporting functions to facilitate leak surveys in urban environments. Both extractive analyzers and open-path leak detectors performed well during several months of operation in urban environment without incidence of any major mechanical failure in either extractive or open-path instruments.
Relevant Files & Links
Final Report
6663-FinalReport.pdf