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 $$$$.
Be amazed. I can find an underground natural gas leak so small you can't even smell it by driving by. And we're still using the old flame-ionization method of doing mobile leak surveys, so I have to drive at about walking speed. You service line and meter set are checked by someone walking using the same method. We don't need for the gas to be odorized at all. I've checked gas mains straight from the well to compressors to distribution gate stations that were not odorized. Your local gas company adds the odor.
The newest technology for detecting leaks uses a laser tuned to the absorption wavelength of methane. You can detect a small gas leak while driving 15 or 20 mph, and very large leaks while driving a bit faster. Checking service lines and meters can be done much faster, too. The laser has a usable range of about 100 feet.
That's what I've been doing for a living for the last 36 years. I've found tens of thousands of underground leaks and hundreds of thousands of above ground leaks. Saved no telling how many lives and houses.
If an underground natural gas leak is classified as a Grade 1, then you have no choice but to repair it. You have 24 hours from the time it was reported.
Generally a Grade 1 is 75 to 100% gas in air as measured with a combustible gas indicator, but a leak in a sensitive location that reads smaller than that can be classified as a Grade 1.
I noticed in the article that one group that may benefit from this tiny commuter car was senior citizens. Really? Can you imagine a senior citizen getting in or out of that tiny thing? I'm a 6' 250 lb 59 year old with arthritic knees and artificial hips, and I have trouble getting in an out of a Volkswagen Jetta. By the time I'm 70 I'll have trouble getting in a Cadillac!
Think about all you do during the day, and how many of those things you do without really thinking about them. Some of it is learned through practice, but all of it isn't.
Even something as simple (on the surface) as driving is really complex, and you're constantly doing advanced math in your head without doing it consciously. Next time you're in heavy traffic going 70 mph, try consciously thinking about every move you're making and the move every other vehicle is making or about to make. It will make your head explode.
Along with Texas and Louisiana, the other petitioners interested in secession are in Kentucky, Oregon, Montana, North Dakota, Mississippi, North Carolina, Florida, Georgia, New York, New Jersey, Colorado, Arkansas, South Carolina, and Missouri.
Yep, all those are the poorest states and redder than a ripe tomato.
I'm constantly traveling on my job, so I mailed my ballot a couple of weeks ago. I've voted absentee since 1976. Nowadays you have to put a copy of some kind of ID inside when you mail it, but that's no problem.
We desperately need photo ID in all states. What's the big problem? Your state would probably give you one if you couldn't afford one.
Other than absentee voting, the only kind of voting I trust is marking your vote on paper that is then scanned by an optical scanner. Fast vote totals and a paper backup copy in case of disputes.
I don't think I want a velomobile for any sort of highway jaunt, but it might be handier than a car for getting to the store that's about 9 blocks from my house.
I hope you're not planning to buy much at that store. The velomobile hasn't got much space for stuff.
Just because something I own is not in my "building" completely under my control does not mean I lose my property rights. For example, I may own land in another county or even another state. The government would still need a warrant before searching that property. And my car is in the garage for repair. They can't search that without a warrant either.
I think the Feds have overstepped a bit this time.
I can refuel in just a few minutes. How long does it take to recharge the Tesla Model S?
I have driven 300 miles to a job and then worked all day out of my vehicle. I don't think our customers would be happy if I had to sit and wait for my vehicle to recharge.
Slashdot Mirror
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 $$$$.
Be amazed. I can find an underground natural gas leak so small you can't even smell it by driving by. And we're still using the old flame-ionization method of doing mobile leak surveys, so I have to drive at about walking speed. You service line and meter set are checked by someone walking using the same method. We don't need for the gas to be odorized at all. I've checked gas mains straight from the well to compressors to distribution gate stations that were not odorized. Your local gas company adds the odor.
The newest technology for detecting leaks uses a laser tuned to the absorption wavelength of methane. You can detect a small gas leak while driving 15 or 20 mph, and very large leaks while driving a bit faster. Checking service lines and meters can be done much faster, too. The laser has a usable range of about 100 feet.
That's what I've been doing for a living for the last 36 years. I've found tens of thousands of underground leaks and hundreds of thousands of above ground leaks. Saved no telling how many lives and houses.
If an underground natural gas leak is classified as a Grade 1, then you have no choice but to repair it. You have 24 hours from the time it was reported.
Generally a Grade 1 is 75 to 100% gas in air as measured with a combustible gas indicator, but a leak in a sensitive location that reads smaller than that can be classified as a Grade 1.
That's what I was thinking. They can't pass it because the public is up in arms, but then they sneak it in quietly when nobody is paying attention.
It's very hard to write something inside of a parenthesis. The plural of 'parenthesis' is 'parentheses'.
They should stop shooting the drones and start shooting the activists. Surely on all that property they can find somewhere to dig a shallow grave!
For Pete's sake, people! It's not "cut and paste"; it's "copy and paste"!! The two operations are not the same thing.
You'd think a bunch of geeks would get it right.
It starts with assaults on free speech, but it ends with destroying the most basic of freedoms - the freedom to fail.
Are you really that fucking stupid?
Honestly, are you?
Class action lawsuits were invented by lawyers for lawyers. I agree that we need some other solution to punish companies that harm consumers.
I noticed in the article that one group that may benefit from this tiny commuter car was senior citizens. Really? Can you imagine a senior citizen getting in or out of that tiny thing? I'm a 6' 250 lb 59 year old with arthritic knees and artificial hips, and I have trouble getting in an out of a Volkswagen Jetta. By the time I'm 70 I'll have trouble getting in a Cadillac!
We'll take it, but only if we can get rid of all the welfare parasites that you love so much. You may have them.
You also left out the facts that we have better weather and most of the guns.
Think about all you do during the day, and how many of those things you do without really thinking about them. Some of it is learned through practice, but all of it isn't.
Even something as simple (on the surface) as driving is really complex, and you're constantly doing advanced math in your head without doing it consciously. Next time you're in heavy traffic going 70 mph, try consciously thinking about every move you're making and the move every other vehicle is making or about to make. It will make your head explode.
I have mod points, but I didn't see an option for "Idiot".
Along with Texas and Louisiana, the other petitioners interested in secession are in Kentucky, Oregon, Montana, North Dakota, Mississippi, North Carolina, Florida, Georgia, New York, New Jersey, Colorado, Arkansas, South Carolina, and Missouri.
Yep, all those are the poorest states and redder than a ripe tomato.
I'm 59 soon to be 60. If I'm still around in 2080, I'm not going to be worried about coffee.
Of course a hungry man will eat a beast.
Oh, you meant hungry man-eating beasts!
Now do all of you see the importance of writing correctly?
Indeed. Honorable people in government are as rare as hens' teeth.
Don't worry. Obama can fix it. Just hope it with all your heart and he will change it for you.
I'm constantly traveling on my job, so I mailed my ballot a couple of weeks ago. I've voted absentee since 1976. Nowadays you have to put a copy of some kind of ID inside when you mail it, but that's no problem.
We desperately need photo ID in all states. What's the big problem? Your state would probably give you one if you couldn't afford one.
Other than absentee voting, the only kind of voting I trust is marking your vote on paper that is then scanned by an optical scanner. Fast vote totals and a paper backup copy in case of disputes.
Judging from the smell, I'd say she's smuggling dead fish.
I don't think I want a velomobile for any sort of highway jaunt, but it might be handier than a car for getting to the store that's about 9 blocks from my house.
I hope you're not planning to buy much at that store. The velomobile hasn't got much space for stuff.
Just because something I own is not in my "building" completely under my control does not mean I lose my property rights. For example, I may own land in another county or even another state. The government would still need a warrant before searching that property. And my car is in the garage for repair. They can't search that without a warrant either.
I think the Feds have overstepped a bit this time.
Okay, then how about reading and interacting on slashdot?
I can refuel in just a few minutes. How long does it take to recharge the Tesla Model S?
I have driven 300 miles to a job and then worked all day out of my vehicle. I don't think our customers would be happy if I had to sit and wait for my vehicle to recharge.