Systems and methods for determining a gas leak detection survey area boundary

• US 9,322,735 B1
• Filed: 01/03/2013
• Issued: 04/26/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Picarro, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Picarro, Inc.
• Inventors: Tan, Sze Meng, Rella, Chris W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Breene, John
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dinh, Lynda
• Application Number:
  US13/733,868
• Time in Patent Office: 1,209 Days
• Field of Search: 702/51, 702/23
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 65/006 Measuring or detecting fuel leakage of fuel injection apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/00 Investigating fluid-tightness of structures
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/007 Leak detector calibration, standard leaks G01M3/207 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/04 by detecting the presence of fluid at the leakage point
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/16 using electric detection means G01M3/045, G01M3/06, G01M3/12, G01M3/20, G01M3/24, G01M3/26 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/24 using infrasonic, sonic, or ultrasonic vibrations
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/26 by measuring rate of loss or gain of fluid, e.g. by pressure-responsive devices, by flow detectors
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/28 for pipes, cables or tubes; for pipe joints or seals; for valves ; for welds
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/2807 for pipes G01M3/2892, G01M3/30 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/2892 for underground fuel dispensing systems G01M3/30 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/38 by using light G01M3/02 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01W 1/00 Meteorology
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 15/00 Digital computers in general details G06F1/00 – G06F13/00; Data processing equipment in general
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/29 Geographical information databases

Abstract

In some embodiments, at least one processor is employed to determine a boundary of a survey area. Data representative of the locations of measurement points adjacent to or outside of the survey area is received, as well as data representative of wind direction at the measurement points. The boundary of the survey area is determined according to the data representative of wind direction and a maximum detection distance value representative of an estimated maximum distance from a potential gas leak source at which a gas leak from the potential source can be detected. The boundary is determined such that if the potential gas leak source is located in the survey area and has a rate of leakage meeting a minimum leak rate condition, then an estimated probability of detection of the gas leak at one or more of the measurement points satisfies a probability condition.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

performing a gas leak detection survey by measuring one or more gas concentration values at one or more measurement points using a gas concentration measurement device carried by a moving vehicle along a survey path,

determining one or more geospatially-referenced locations of the one or more measurement points using a positioning device carried by the moving vehicle, and

measuring one or more wind direction values using a wind direction determination device carried by the moving vehicle, wherein the one or more wind direction values are measured within a time interval during which the one or more gas concentration values are measured, the time interval being less than or equal to 2 minutes;

converting, using at least one hardware processor, the one or more measured wind direction values to data representative of wind direction relative to ground;

determining, using the at least one hardware processor, a maximum detection distance value for the one or more measurement points according to the data representative of wind direction at the one or more measurement points, wherein the maximum detection distance value is representative of an estimated maximum distance from a potential gas leak source at which a gas leak from the potential gas leak source is detectable by the survey at the one or more measurement points; and

determining, using the at least one hardware processor, a boundary of a survey area for the gas leak detection survey according to the maximum detection distance value,

wherein the boundary of the survey area is determined such that if the potential gas leak source is located in the survey area and has a rate of leakage meeting a minimum leak rate condition, then an estimated probability of detection of the gas leak at the one or more measurement point satisfies a probability condition.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the probability of detection at the one or more of the measurement points is estimated according to an angle subtended by a segment of the survey path relative to a candidate point for the potential gas leak source, the segment of the survey path being positioned within a distance of the candidate point that is less than or equal to the estimated maximum distance.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the probability of detection is further estimated according to a cumulative probability of wind directions with respect to the subtended angle.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the data representative of wind direction represents a plurality of wind direction measurements, and wherein the cumulative probability of wind directions is determined according to a representative wind direction and a wind direction variability calculated from the wind direction measurements.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the representative wind direction comprises a mean, median, or mode of the wind direction measurements, and wherein the wind direction variability comprises a variance or standard deviation of the wind direction measurements.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the maximum detection distance value is determined according to data representative of wind speed at the one or more measurement points.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the maximum detection distance value is further determined according to data representative of atmospheric stability conditions at the one or more measurement points.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the probability condition satisfied is an estimated probability of detection greater than or equal to 70%.

9. An apparatus comprising

a gas concentration measurement device configured to measure one or more gas concentration values at one or more measurement points along a survey path travelled by a moving vehicle conducting a gas leak detection survey, the vehicle carrying the gas concentration measurement device;

a positioning device configured to determine one or more geospatially referenced locations of the one or more measurement points;

a wind direction determination device configured to measure one or more wind direction values, wherein the one or more wind direction values are measured within a time interval during which the one or more gas concentration values are measured, the time interval being less than or equal to 2 minutes; and

at least one hardware processor coupled to the gas concentration measurement device, the positioning device, and the wind direction determination device, the at least one hardware processor being configured to;

convert the one or more measured wind direction values to data representative of wind direction relative to ground,

determine a maximum detection distance value for the one or more measurement points, the maximum detection distance value being determined according to the data representative of wind direction, wherein the maximum detection distance value is representative of an estimated maximum distance from a potential gas leak source at which a gas leak from the potential gas leak source is detectable by the survey at the one or more measurement points, and

determine a boundary of a survey area for the gas leak detection survey according to the maximum detection distance value;

wherein the boundary of the survey area is determined such that if the potential gas leak source is located in the survey area and has a rate of leakage meeting a minimum leak rate condition, then an estimated probability of detection of the gas leak at the one or more measurement points satisfies a probability condition.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the probability of detection at the one or more measurement points is estimated according to an angle subtended by a segment of the survey path relative to a candidate point for the potential gas leak source, the segment of the survey path being positioned within a distance of the candidate point that is less than or equal to the estimated maximum distance.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the probability of detection is further estimated according to a cumulative probability of wind direction with respect to the subtended angle.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the data representative of wind direction comprises represents a plurality of wind 10 direction measurements, and wherein the cumulative probability of wind directions is determined according to a representative wind direction and a wind direction variability calculated from the wind direction measurements.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the representative wind direction comprises a mean, median, or mode of the wind direction measurements, and wherein the wind direction variability comprises a variance or standard deviation of the wind direction measurements.

14. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the maximum detection distance value is determined according to data representative of wind speed at the one or more measurement points.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the maximum detection distance value is further determined according to data representative of atmospheric stability conditions at the one or more measurement points.

16. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the probability condition satisfied is an estimated probability of detection greater than or equal to 70%.

17. A non-transitory computer-readable medium encoding instructions which, when executed by a computer system, cause the computer system to:

receive one or more gas concentration values measured at one or more measurement points by a gas concentration measurement device carried by a moving vehicle along a survey path;

receive one or more geospatially-referenced locations of the one or more measurement points determined using a positioning device carried by the moving vehicle;

receive one or more wind direction values measured using a wind direction determination device carried by the moving vehicle, wherein the one or more wind direction values are measured within a time interval during which the one or more gas concentration values are measured, the time interval being less than or equal to 2 minutes;

convert the one or more measured wind direction values to data representative of wind direction relative to ground;

determine a maximum detection distance value for the one or more measurement points, the maximum detection distance value being determined according to the data representative of wind direction, wherein the maximum detection distance value is representative of an estimated maximum distance from a potential gas leak source at which a gas leak from the potential gas leak source is detectable by the survey at the one or more measurement points; and

determine a boundary of a survey area for the gas leak detection survey according to the maximum detection distance value;

wherein the boundary of the survey area is determined such that if the potential gas leak source is located in the survey area and has a rate of leakage meeting a minimum leak rate condition, then an estimated probability of detection of the gas leak at the one or more measurement points satisfies a probability condition.