Keyword: «gas detector»

The article addresses the challenge of rapid on-site determination of natural gas leak locations from a transmission gas pipeline under field conditions. The difficulty lies in the frequent absence of visual indicators, while gas plumes disperse in the soil and the atmosphere. A practice-oriented approach is proposed, based on along-line surveying with a portable gas analyzer and local assessment of the gas release rate through a defect. The study comprises two stages. First, the pipeline axis is staked out, and methane anomalies are identified using thresholds in ppm and %LEL. An algorithm is presented for ranking leaks by flux density. Experimental data were obtained for eight defects on an in-service pipeline segment. It is shown that the method provides localization accuracy of 0.5–1.5 m and yields a quantitative estimate of the release rate. Ranking by efflux density enables prioritization of repair work and improves monitoring planning. The limitations of the approach and the requirements for measurement conditions are discussed.