As oil and gas companies and natural gas utilities in Europe and North America look for ways to comply with environmental regulations and make their infrastructure safer and more resilient, detecting and measuring natural gas leaks has become vital.
New Environmental Regulations Drive Adoption
In August 2024, the EU Methane Regulation came into effect, making it mandatory for operators of energy infrastructure in Europe to regularly measure methane emissions and eliminate gas leaks quickly. As natural gas is primarily composed of methane, leakages from natural gas pipelines are important to contain.
At the same time, extreme weather events such as hurricanes and tornadoes have become more common due to climate change. This has made it imperative for energy companies, especially in North America, to find more reliable ways to inspect energy infrastructure quickly and economically.
Challenges in Detecting Methane Leaks
There are more than 1.1 million km of pipelines in the world – enough to circle the Earth 30 times. These pipelines are typically buried underground, making it difficult to detect unwanted leaks of methane, which is invisible, odorless, and does not leave a smoke trail.
"The effective detection of leaks and measurement of emissions around natural gas pipelines is vital for our energy customers for ensuring compliance and safety of infrastructure, but traditional methods are slow and lack the accuracy and sensitivity required," said Jason Ghiraldini, Global Product Manager, Natural Gas Leak Detection, ABB Measurement & Analytics. "There has been a long-term commitment from ABB to the development of multiple innovative emissions monitoring and gas leak technologies that help our customers perform optimally."
MobileGuard: A High-Performance Leak Detection Solution
The vehicle-mounted, laser-based MobileGuard has sensitivity over 1,000 times higher than conventional technologies and is 10 times faster than traditional equipment in detecting single parts per billion (ppb) of methane and ethane. It measures methane and ethane concentrations simultaneously several times per second, using OA-ICOS™ technology (off-axis integrated cavity output spectroscopy), which works by using a tunable laser source that produces light at a selected wavelength for interacting with the gases.
A Comprehensive Gas Leak Detection Portfolio
MobileGuard is part of ABB’s portfolio of natural gas leak detection solutions that are designed to operate autonomously or in combination. Drone-based HoverGuard detects and quantifies methane leaks in hard-to-reach assets and landfills, while the portable MicroGuard™ is used for conducting surveys on foot to quickly pinpoint leak source locations. The portfolio combines high-performance laser-based measurement technology with advanced data analysis software to provide customers with the most comprehensive, effective, and efficient methods for finding, quantifying, and fixing gas leaks.
Analysers based on ABB’s OA-ICOS have also been used by researchers worldwide for over twenty years to record trace gas concentrations from the Arctic to the Amazon for scientific purposes requiring the highest accuracy.
ABB’s Commitment to Innovation in Gas Leak Detection Solution
ABB is a global technology leader in electrification and automation, enabling a more sustainable and resource-efficient future. By connecting its engineering and digitalisation expertise, ABB helps industries run at high performance, while becoming more efficient, productive, and sustainable so they outperform. At ABB, we call this ‘Engineered to Outrun’. The company has over 140 years of history and around 110,000 employees worldwide. ABB’s shares are listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange (ABBN) and Nasdaq Stockholm (ABB).
ABB’s Process Automation business automates, electrifies, and digitalizes industrial operations that address a wide range of essential needs – from supplying energy, water, and materials, to producing goods and transporting them to market. With its ~20,000 employees, leading technology, and service expertise, ABB Process Automation helps process, hybrid, and maritime industries outrun – leaner and cleaner. ABB’s natural gas leak detection solution plays a vital role in ensuring infrastructure safety and regulatory compliance.
