4 Topic Commentaries

Methane Detection Hits the Road

Methane Detection Hits the Road

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  Joe von Fischer, PhD

  Ecosystem ecology and methane emissions detection

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  Colorado State University

  This is a huge challenge that almost nobody had been thinking about. Now we’re finding out just how widespread these leaks are. The faster you fix them, the bigger the environmental benefits are. But utilities and regulators didn’t have the data to focus their efforts. That’s where we come in. Our goal is to make it faster, cheaper and easier to find and measure methane leaks from natural gas lines to help accelerate crucial repairs.

  Source
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  Robert B. Jackson, PhD

  Environmental science; urban methane leak mapping

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  Duke University

  Finding the leaks a second time, four months after we first reported them, was really surprising.

  Source
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  Adrian Down, PhD student

  Ecology; mobile methane emissions quantification

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  Duke University

  Methane emissions from these four leaks ranged from 9,200 to 38,200 liters per day for each leak -- that's comparable to the amount of natural gas used by between 2 and 7 homes.

  Source
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  Nathan G. Phillips, PhD

  Physiological ecology; urban gas infrastructure and methane

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  Boston University

  The average density of leaks we mapped in the two cities is comparable, but the average methane concentrations are higher in Washington.

  Source