Natural Gas Leak Detection and

Prevention

Rick Trieste

Department Manager - Research, Development &

Demonstration

Consolidated Edison Company of New York

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Gas Service Areas Other Service Areas

CECONY Gas Franchise

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WESTCHESTER

BRONX

MANHATTAN

QUEENS

BROOKLYN

STATEN ISLAND

LONG ISLAND

CONNECTICUT

NEW JERSEY

NEW YORK

• 1.1 M customers

• ~4,400 miles of distribution mains

• ~375,000 services

• 94 miles of transmission mains

Application of Technology In Urban

Environments Pose Challenges

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2017

Application of Technology In Urban

Environments Pose Challenges

4 1917

Project Goals and Objectives Need to be

Realistic

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Gas Leak Management Requires Multi-

Faceted Approach

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Efforts: • Monthly mobile

leak survey • Public awareness

campaigns • Residential

methane detectors development and deployment

Detection Response

Efforts: • Code MuRRE • Isolation valve

installation program

• Repair Type 3 leaks

Prevention

Efforts: • Main

replacement program leak prone pipe

• One-call, Dig safe • Work

coordination with city utilities

Response: Gas Leak Backlog Management

0

1,000

2,000

3,000

4,000

5,000

6,000

7,000

8,000

9,000

10,000

11,000

12,000

2000

7 1992 - 2017

Le

aks

Prevention: Main Replacement Program

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Prevention: Service Replacement Program

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Detection: Public Awareness Campaigns

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• Battery powered - 5 yrs.

• Tested by GTI

• UL 1484 certified

Detection: Residential Natural Gas

Detector – New Cosmos

• 10% LEL alarm (0.5% gas-in-air)

• Device Company owned

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Detection: Residential Natural Gas

Detector – Sparrow Detect

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Detection: Residential Natural Gas

Detectors– Sparrow Detect

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Detection: Leak Survey Enhancement

Project with Colorado State University

• Mobile leak survey performed with Heath DP-IR

• Objective is to evaluate tools and process to seek improvements of

mobile leak survey

– Evaluate application of an anemometer

– Operate an LGR in parallel to:

• Optimize alarm set-point of DP-IR

• Minimize false positives

• Evaluate leak investigation process once an indication warrants

• Evaluate use of hand-held devices to zero in on leak location

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• Picarro Surveyor

– Areas clear of urban canyons

– Pre-pave surveys

– New construction quality control

– Written procedures

• Project begun to evaluate ABB MobileGuard™

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Detection: Advanced Leak Detection

Technologies

Methane Emissions Avoidance – ZEVAC,

TPE Midstream

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Natural Gas Leak Detection and

Prevention

Rick Trieste

Department Manager - Research, Development &

Demonstration

Consolidated Edison Company of New York

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