Detection of Natural Gas Leakages Using a Laser-Based Methane Sensor and UAV

The safety of the gas transmission infrastructure is one main concerns for operating companies. Common pipelines’ tightness control tedious and time-consuming. development new methods highly desirable. This paper focuses on applications air-borne inspections natural pipelines. goal this study to test an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), equipped with a remote sensing methane detector, leak detection from pipeline network. Many studies use UAV laser detectors have been presented in literature. These include experiments mainly artificial sources simulating leaks. real leakage pipeline. at first monitored source determine conditions further experiments. Then selected section pipelines were conducted. measurement data, along spatial coordinates, collected analyzed using machine learning methods. analysis enabled identification groups spatially correlated regions which increased concentrations. Investigations flight altitude influence accuracy measurements also carried out. A range between 4 m 15 was depicted as optimal data collection inspections. However, results field showed that areas concentrations are significantly more difficult identify, though they still noticeable. indicate lower altitudes flights should be chosen. monitoring can used tool preliminary selection potentially untight sections.