An enhanced procedure for urban mobile methane leak detection.

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Urban Planning
• Public Health

Background:

• Methane leaks from natural gas distribution pipelines present significant human and environmental health challenges in urban settings.
• Previous surveys indicated persistent issues in some areas, necessitating further investigation in additional locations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the extent and persistence of methane leaks from urban natural gas distribution pipelines.
• To evaluate the effectiveness of mobile methane leak survey methodology in different urban environments.
• To provide data supporting proactive pipeline repair and replacement strategies.

Main Methods:

• Conducted urban mobile methane leak surveys in Hartford, Danbury, and New London, Connecticut, in March 2019.
• Employed an innovative methodology for data collection, transferable to similar urban settings.
• Analyzed leak data to estimate leak rates and potential natural gas loss.

Main Results:

• Hartford showed persistent high leak rates (4.3 leaks/mile in 2019), with an estimated loss of 0.86 metric tonnes of methane daily.
• Danbury exhibited problematic leaks (3.6 leaks/mile), while New London identified leak-prone areas.
• The methodology proved effective in identifying and quantifying methane leaks across diverse urban landscapes.

Conclusions:

• Urban natural gas pipelines continue to be a source of significant methane leaks, posing environmental and health risks.
• Mobile leak detection surveys provide actionable data for prioritizing pipeline repairs.
• Implementing data-driven strategies for leak mitigation can significantly improve urban pipeline performance and safety nationwide.