Introduction of Laser Evaluating Technology to Street Leak Surveys Ashraf Salha APA Group Gas Speak Colloquium September 2015

APA Group Presentation  2 Background on Leak Survey in SA Project Objective/ The Need The Gas Network in South Australia Leak Survey Techniques Street Evaluating Laser Technology Advantages of the New System Summary Presentation Outline

APA Group Presentation  3 Background on Leak Survey in SA Project Objective/ The Need Street Evaluating Laser Technology Leak Survey Techniques Gas Network in SA Advantages of the new system Summary The Gas Network in SA -Is the gas distribution network from the transmission supply interfaces to the customer’s meter outlets -Consists of steel, cast and high and medium density polyethylene pipe -Operates at Pressures less than 1,050 kPa -Some parts of the network are years old

APA Group Presentation  4 The Gas Network in SA Background on Leak Survey in SA Project Objective/ The Need Street Evaluating Laser Technology Leak Survey Techniques Gas Network in SA Advantages of the new system Summary

APA Group Presentation  5 Background on Leak Survey in SA: Km / 5 Years -Around 8 Km / day / technician -90 % under footpath, 10% under road -Flame Ionization detection method -Golf Buggy pushed by hand/remotely controlled Background on Leak Survey in SA Project Objective/ The Need Street Evaluating Laser Technology Leak Survey Techniques Gas Network in SA Advantages of the new system Summary

APA Group Presentation  6 Project Objective / The Need: 1- Achieve a quicker gas leak survey to cover more area in less time. 2- Significantly decrease the cost of the 5 year gas survey for the long term. 3- Improve the health and safety environment of the technicians that are conducting the survey. 4- Save the leaks’ recordings with GPS coordinates and pinpoint them on map. 5- Decrease maintenance requirements for gas detection equipment. Background on Leak Survey in SA Project Objective/ The Need Street Evaluating Laser Technology Leak Survey Techniques Gas Network in SA Advantages of the new system Summary

APA Group Presentation  7 Leak Detection Technique (Flame Ionization) [Specialty gas Report 2009] -Air is pumped in & mixed with hydrogen & oxygen -Flame jet is ignited -Mixture burns -Carbon ions are produced & collected by collector. -Electric current is induced then amplified to determine the reading compared to calibrated level. Background on Leak Survey in SA Project Objective/ The Need Street Evaluating Laser Technology Leak Survey Techniques Gas Network in SA Advantages of the new system Summary

APA Group Presentation  8 -Optical filter transmits methane IR wavelengths -Detector measures the intensity of 2 wavelengths (at absorption wavelength and outside absorption wavelength) -Gas concentration is determined by comparing the level of intensity of the two radiations. Leak Detection Technique (Infra Red Wavelengths) Background on Leak Survey in SA Project Objective/ The Need Street Evaluating Laser Technology Leak Survey Techniques Gas Network in SA Advantages of the new system Summary

APA Group Presentation  9 Street Evaluating Laser Technology The new street evaluating laser technology system is consisted of three subsystems: The front bumper tube subsystem The laser analyzing computer subsystem The laptop interface subsystem Background on Leak Survey in SA Project Objective/ The Need Street Evaluating Laser Technology Leak Survey Techniques Gas Network in SA Advantages of the new system Summary

APA Group Presentation  10 The Front Bumper Tube subsystem The front bumper tube subsystem allows for the flow of the air cloud into the analyzing system. It filters the air from dust and other particles to protect the rest of the subsystems Background on Leak Survey in SA Project Objective/ The Need Street Evaluating Laser Technology Leak Survey Techniques Gas Network in SA Advantages of the new system Summary

APA Group Presentation  11 The laser analyzing computer subsystem A laser is emitted between two reflecting mirrors. When the gas plume goes through the medium between the mirrors only methane gas is absorbed by the laser wavelength. The intensity of the laser is received and compared to a reference level determining the methane percentage in the gas plume. Background on Leak Survey in SA Project Objective/ The Need Street Evaluating Laser Technology Leak Survey Techniques Gas Network in SA Advantages of the new system Summary

APA Group Presentation  12 The Laptop Interface subsystem This is where the data captured and analyzed is sent into a live processing software that the technician can monitor while doing the survey. Background on Leak Survey in SA Project Objective/ The Need Street Evaluating Laser Technology Leak Survey Techniques Gas Network in SA Advantages of the new system Summary

APA Group Presentation  13 Methane/ Natural Gas Explosive Limits Background on Leak Survey in SA Project Objective/ The Need Street Evaluating Laser Technology Leak Survey Techniques Gas Network in SA Advantages of the new system Summary 20% Gas in Air 5% Gas in Air 50,000 ppm LEL UEL Combustible

APA Group Presentation  14 The System Output Results Results can be exported in multiple formats Track and leaks can be saved in GIS system, Google Earth and logged in tracking spreadsheets Background on Leak Survey in SA Project Objective/ The Need Street Evaluating Laser Technology Leak Survey Techniques Gas Network in SA Advantages of the new system Summary

APA Group Presentation  15 The System Output Results Background on Leak Survey in SA Project Objective/ The Need Street Evaluating Laser Technology Leak Survey Techniques Gas Network in SA Advantages of the new system Summary

APA Group Presentation  16 Advantages of the new system: - No pumps or calibration gases are required anymore - The new system is low maintenance (self calibrated) -No false alarms (methane specific) -Sensitivity to 10 ppm -Digital output/ Data logging with GPS coordinates, speed, time and user name allowing an electronic record which can be retrieved and used as evidence for regulatory compliance if required Background on Leak Survey in SA Project Objective/ The Need Street Evaluating Laser Technology Leak Survey Techniques Gas Network in SA Advantages of the new system Summary

APA Group Presentation  17 Advantages of the new system: -Available leak data is used to assist in determining mains replacement priorities -Survey area was increased to cover average of 60 km/day compared to 8 km/day when walking the streets -Safer environment for the field survey technician, avoiding driveways, road intersections and hot weather -Helped reduce physical fatigue to field technicians as less walking is required Background on Leak Survey in SA Project Objective/ The Need Street Evaluating Laser Technology Leak Survey Techniques Gas Network in SA Advantages of the new system Summary

APA Group Presentation  18 Summary: -Gas Leak Survey in SA used to be done by walking each street -New laser evaluating technology was introduced to make the process safer and more efficient -Significant advantages were brought to the business by the new system Background on Leak Survey in SA Project Objective/ The Need Street Evaluating Laser Technology Leak Survey Techniques Gas Network in SA Advantages of the new system Summary

APA Group Presentation  19

APA Group Presentation  20 We Deliver Energy