PG&E Doubles Down on Methane Leak Detection Technology
California-based Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) plans to utilize methane leak detection technology to analyze 1.2 million service lines, gas meters and pipelines across its service territory. This is a great development for the company, as it has been in the news quite a bit in the past few years but for mostly negative reasons. Finally, it would seem, the utility is starting to get some positive press and recognition for the good things it is doing.
Details of the Methane Leak Detection Technology
The company’s methane leak detection technology consists primarily of vehicle-mounted and hand-held devices operated by employees and/or contractors in the field.
The vehicle-mounted technology consists of the Picarro Surveyor System, which measures methane plumes in the air, maps the location of any leaks, and prioritizes / grades the repair of identified leaks based on their importance and configuration within the overall system. According to the company, the detection ability of these devices is incredible, able to detect down to a single molecule of methane.
Using these devices, PG&E will survey 42,000 miles of infrastructure to identify leaks and improve the eco-friendliness of its environmental footprint. The vehicle-mounted devices will be deployed after hours, and the hand-held technology will be utilized during traditional business hours, from 6am-4pm.
Most of the infrastructure to be monitored encompasses lines that directly connect to gas meters. The company plans to survey this infrastructure on a 3-year cycle and plans to survey its entire high-pressure transmission pipeline system every 6 months.
Overall, I think this is a great move by PG&E. Between getting blamed for infrastructure damage caused by forest fires, to receiving criticism for the timing and frequency of planned outages, to declaring bankruptcy, PG&E has definitely had its fair share of negative press and customer and regulatory scrutiny over the last few years.
But thanks to recently-announced positive developments – such as installing wildfire sensors, undergrounding power lines, and now doubling down on methane leak detection technology – the company’s reputation seems to be on the rebound.
