Advanced Leak Detection Methods for Belowground Natural Gas Pipeline Leaks: Evaluation under Diverse Environmental and Operational Conditions.

ABSTRACT: Advanced leak detection (ALD) methods are increasingly employed to enhance the safety of natural gas (NG) infrastructure and reduce methane (CH₄) emissions. While these technologies have proven effective for detecting aboveground leaks, their effectiveness in detecting belowground leaks remains limited due to the complex behavior of subsurface gas migration and the diffuse nature of surface and atmospheric plume presentation. This study presents a comprehensive experimental evaluation of ALD methods, including walking, driving, and simulated unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV_sim)-based surveys, conducted under controlled conditions at leak rates of 0.5, 5, and 10 slpm (0.334, 3.34, and 6.67 g/min). Experiments were carried out over two years at the Methane Emissions Technol

SUBMITTER: Gundapuneni VR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12902981 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature