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Thousands of Natural Gas Leaks Found In Boston
poofmeisterp writes "Due to old cast iron underground pipelines, natural gas leaks run amok in Boston, MA. '"While our study was not intended to assess explosion risks, we came across six locations in Boston where gas concentrations exceeded the threshold above which explosions can occur," Nathan Phillips, associate professor at BU, said in a statement.' With 'a device to measure methane' in a vehicle equipped with GPS, Duke and Boston University researchers created a nice little map showing the methane levels in parts per million at different points in the city. 'Repairing these leaks will improve air quality, increase consumer health and safety, and save money,' study researcher Robert B. Jackson, of Duke, said in a statement. 'We just have to put the right financial incentives into place.' It looks like money is an issue. Imagine that."
You can tell you're not a sleazy CEO. You raise rates to cover the cost of the leak, fix the leak anyway, and then leave the higher rates in place to profit even after you've made up your loss.
I've spent 36 years now as a natural gas leakage technician. I "know" gas leaks.
The flame ionization instrument I use detects gas in ppm from 0 - 10,000. I can assure you that even when I get a reading of only 28 or 100 or 500 ppm at the ground, the leak at its source is bigger. You can't classify leaks the way these dudes were doing it. You have to punch a hole in the ground and use a combustible gas indicator to measure the gas in air percentage near the pipe.
There is an explosive limit like you say, roughly 5% to 15% gas in air. Anything under or above that that won't burn or explode. There is danger when a structure fills up with gas and a danger when the gas is being ventilated. During the increase and the decrease the concentration passes through that explosive range.
You won't always smell the odor. Something as simple as wet soil can leech the odor out of gas. Personally, I love the smell - it smells like $$$$.