Acoustic monitor

A new, lightweight device that detects leaks in natural gas pipelines has been successfully tested on a transmission main owned and operated by Dominion Transmission in Morgantown, W.Va.

The test was conducted by the US Department of Energy’s National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) and West Virginia University, which has worked with NETL for the past two years to develop the detection system.

Known as the Portable Acoustic Monitor Package (PAMP), the device -14 inches long, 18 inches tall, and weighing only five pounds - uses a variety of tools to capture and record sound waves that are transmitted by natural gas.

Computer software included in the package analyses and interprets the recorded signals to detect possible leaks. Natural gas compressor stations, which pump gas from one station to another, have a distinct sound, as does natural gas flowing normally through fittings and valves. Variations to these and other background sounds alert operators that a leak may exist.