Summary:

This project will enable developers of innovative leak detection solutions for gas pipelines to develop their solutions by testing at the Methane Emissions Technology Evaluation Center (METEC) at Colorado State University – commitment letters included from eight (8) developers who will collectively invest $900,000 to test for 52 weeks over the life of the project. The project’s partners will focus on survey and stationary methods that can be widely deployed to existing pipelines, meeting PHMSA’s request to “develop innovative or enhanced leak locating technologies to pinpoint/detect leaks in pipelines and facilities with limited excavation for buried pipelines.” Research partner Southern Methodist University (SMU) will assist testing, review literature, and integrate testing results. Robust tech transfer will be accelerated by an annual in-person showcase event where solution developers will present results and demonstrate solutions to operators, regulators and other stakeholders. The study team will also work with developers to document their deployment protocols and assess the need for training on the use of these methods. 

Project Plan: 

The study team will partner with leak detection and quantification (LDAQ) solution developers 

to catalyze development of advanced leak detection for pipelines by: 

• • supporting enhanced solution testing in a pseudo-realistic environment,  

• • documenting deployment protocols, and  

• • providing an annual showcase event to demonstrate solutions to operators, regulators and other stakeholders.  

Partners will develop their solutions in the normal course of business, and the proposed partnership program will provide field testing resources at the Methane Emissions Technology Evaluation Center (METEC) at Colorado State University (CSU) to accelerate that development. Prior and ongoing investments in METEC’s underground test bed capabilities will provide the necessary infrastructure for the testing program. 

The project will be structured as an ongoing testing program with annual reviews coinciding with an in-person showcase event. Solution developers will schedule with METEC for test time, test, and provide reports. Project funding will reduce the cost of testing to accelerate solution development (Task 3), and will also support project-wide requirements. The METEC team has used this type of collaborative / buy-down approach to accelerate testing over the last 3 years as part of the DOE-funded Advancing Development of Emissions Detection (ADED) project. (DOE Award: DE-FE0031873). Project funding assists with protocol development, test execution, and reporting while also reducing the cost of testing for participants.  

Common activities owned by the study team will further accelerate solution development and adoption by addressing key issues for all solutions: Literature review – provide up-to-date information to solution developers (and other stakeholders); showcase events – connect developers and gas operators; protocol development – improve and standardize methods; and training development – accelerate required workforce development.