USE OF LEADING-EDGE TOOLS TO DETECT LEAKS IN NATURAL GAS PIPELINE SYSTEMS

• Jurisdiction: United States

Air Quality Challenges Facing the Natural Resources Industry in the Western United States
(Nov 2007)
CHAPTER 5B
USE OF LEADING-EDGE TOOLS TO DETECT LEAKS IN NATURAL GAS PIPELINE SYSTEMS
Daniel J. Schnee
Senior Counsel
El Paso Corporation
Colorado Springs, Colorado

elpaso

Special Thanks to: Butch Gidney, Sr. Eng.

Why Pay Attention to Leaks?

• Conservation of Scarce Resource

• Methane is a Potent Greenhouse Gas

• Save Money

-- 5 scf/min. leak @ $8/Mcf = $20,000/yr.

-- ¼" line @ 90 scf/min. = $380,000/yr.

• New Tools are Available to Speed Detection of Leaks

-- Remote Methane Leak Detection Sensor

-- FLIR Infra-red Camera.

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El Paso Pipeline Leak Detection Program

• Scan for leaks using RMLD

• Pinpoint leaks using FLIR camera

• Quantify leaks

-- Hi-flow sampler

-- Volumetric bags

• Estimate value of Loss (vol. * price)

• Manage data

-- Prepare/distribute reports

-- Compile image library/data base

• React

-- Repair leaks/replace leaking components

-- Schedule preventive maintenance.

Scanning Tool: Remote Methane Leak Detector (RMLD)

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• Laser-based system

-- Spotting laser

-- Detection laser

• Remote detection -- operator not exposed to gas, fall-hazard, dogs, etc.

• Range: 24 inch-wide detection "cone" at 100'

• Output: Audible alarm and quantification (ppm)

• Cost: $16,500

• Limitations:

-- Doesn't pinpoint leak

-- Quantification unreliable

-- Doesn't generate permanent record

Pinpoint Leaks: FLIR GasFindIR Camera

• Passive Infra-red camera

-- Detects lack of IR radiation

-- Pinpoints location of leak

• Creates permanent still/video record

• Cost: $85,000, including video recorder

• Limitations:

-- Relatively slow to use

-- May miss small leaks

-- Doesn't quantify leak

• El Paso testing gimbaled mount for aerial ROW surveys.

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Examples: GasFindIR Camera

• Typical vent pipe

• Same vent pipe seen thru FLIR Gas FindIR camera

Estimation of Flow -- Image Library

2" Vent Stack

4" Vent Stack

6" Vent Stack

All examples @ 5 scf/m

[Page 5B-5]

GasFindIR Camera -- Handheld

(video capture)

Gas Release -- Standard Photography

[Page 5B-6]

GasFindIR Camera -- Aerial

(video capture)

(video capture)

[Page 5B-7]

Quantifying Methods

• High Flow Sampler

• Volumetric Bags

High Flow Sampler

The Hi-Flow Sampler is a portable, intrinsically safe natural gas measurement sampling system. The sampler has a flow rate of up...