HoverGuard™ gas leak detection solution

Pipelines are the safest and most common way of transporting natural gas. Nearly all gas shipments in the United States are transported through the nearly three million miles of the nation’s pipeline infrastructure[i]. But aging pipeline infrastructure increases the risk of leaks that damage the environment as well as threaten human health and safety. Methane, a primary component in natural gas, is also one of the most potent greenhouse gases. Increasing regulatory pressure to reduce methane emissions is pushing companies to rely on new technology to measure these emissions and detect leaks faster and more reliably.

Conventional methods of detecting gas leaks are slow, inaccurate and can be risky, as technicians must inspect areas by walking with hand-held detectors and manually enter results in reporting systems. ABB’s HoverGuard™ uses innovative laser-based sensing technology and sophisticated data analytics. The solution detects leaks with a sensitivity more than 1,000 times higher than conventional leak detection tools and can cover up to 15 times more land area per hour. It can detect, map, locate, and quantify leaks while flying at altitudes of 40 meters or higher, and at speeds greater than 88 km/h, helping surveyors monitor areas that are typically hard to reach like bridges, areas with right-of-way restrictions or vegetation coverage, gas storage assets and transmission pipelines. HoverGuard™ is also the first drone-based system that may be configured to measure the three most important greenhouse gases – methane, carbon dioxide and water vapor – continuously and with high precision while flying.

The gas leak detection solution collects data continuously and generates comprehensive digital and sharable reports in real time. Through ABB Ability™ cloud storage tools, these reports can be accessed by operators and stakeholders remotely, saving time and allowing them to act fast.

[1] ABB Whitepaper

Key facts:

• Covers land areas up to 15 times faster than conventional tools
• First drone-based system to measure three most important greenhouse gases while flying
• Maps and quantifies natural gas leaks around hard-to-reach sites and far from sources in real time

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