Millennium Projects
Technical Details
Millennium Project Number: M-2003-001
Project Title: ViewGas Remote Leak Detection Device
Project Start Date: 2003
Projected End Date: 2004
Technical Details:
Resonance Ltd. contracted with NYSEARCH to develop a pre-production ViewGas instrument for local leak detection and for overland pipeline leak surveys. ViewGas is intended to be mounted on a vehicle or aircraft for remote leak detection and data collection. ViewGas uses passive thermal infrared technology that makes use of the natural thermal radiation emitted by objects. Although the project was directed toward distribution surveys, using this technology for transmission overland surveys may provide a distinct advantage over traditional methods. For distribution pipelines, there are over hundreds of thousands miles of mains and approximately 10 million gas services owned by member companies that must be surveyed for leakage.
Numerous changes/revisions were incorporated into the ViewGas engineering prototype to improve its detection sensitivity. After extensive field testing in Toronto, it was determined that the technology is limited and may not be able to detect low-grade leaks or those typically encountered during distribution surveys. Major design changes and additional funding would be needed to reduce the high risk of this technology. NYSEARCH decided not to develop this technology any further.