Searching for leaks

The search system installed on the 8 vehicles of our company fleet is based on the very high-sensitivity methane selective LASER technology.
The instrumentation’s on-board control software allows real-time integration of the data processed by the gas leak detector instrument with a GIS (geographic information system) capable of displaying on a commercial or proprietary map of the Client (shape file) the path of the vehicle by exploiting GPS coordinates.
The advantages of using digital mapping in the field are:

• Implementation of the search activity with a “single-operator” system, managing and graphically comparing the network to be controlled and the controlled network, allowing the customer to have complete control over the activities performed (GPS position, detection speed, etc.)
• Return of the complete Shape file of the field search data with evidence of detected fugitive location points
• Automate and speed up the production of client-specific reporting

Each report of the presence of gas is followed by a thorough investigation aimed at determining whether there is an actual gas leak and defining its exact location.
This stage is carried out by drilling bore holes in the ground along the axis of the pipeline until the dispersion zone is delimited.
Each detected leakage is geo-located and is classified according to a hazard index as prescribed by the CIG guideline on gas leakage classification.
Localization and classification of the dispersal are formalized through the preparation of a paper report delivered immediately by the field technician that includes planimetric surveys of the location where it was located, necessary to ensure the exact traceability of the point. To complete the service, the client can request the registration of georeferenced vanishing points in Shape format.