Technologies

Name	Program Area	Status
Tunable Laser for Methane Sensing	Damage Prevention and Mitigation -- Leak Detection	Under Development
Description:	Low cost, tunable, mid-infrared (mid-IR) laser source to be used in systems for detecting and measuring methane emissions. The new architecture is planned to reduce the cost of lasers capable of targeting methane optical absorption lines near 3.3 microns, enabling the development of affordable, high...
UAS-Mounted Open Path Laser Spectrometer	Damage Prevention and Mitigation -- Leak Detection	Under Development
Description:	NASA Open Loop Laser Spectrometer (OPLS) with parts per billion accuracy developed for Mars exploration is mounted on Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) for detecting methane leaks. Prototype system was tested in the Merced Vernal Pools and Grassland Reserve. System envisioned to be deployed with...
Ultra-Sensitive Reduced Cost Laser Cavity-Based Methane Leak Detection System	Damage Prevention and Mitigation -- Leak Detection	Under Development
Description:	Cost-effective, highly sensitive optical methane sensors that can be integrated into mobile or stationary methane monitoring systems. A laser-based sensor utilizes optical cavity techniques, which provide long path lengths and high methane sensitivity and selectivity, but previously have been...
Valve Position Confirmation Technology	Damage Prevention and Mitigation -- Excavation Damage Prevention	Under Development
Description:	A feasibility study to examine the equipment and methodology to use the sound of gas flow through a valve to confirm the exact position of critical valves in gas distribution systems. Field tests, using acoustics and an innovative tool delivery system proved the concept and highlighted the...
Vehicle Methane Detector (VMD)	Damage Prevention and Mitigation -- Leak Detection	Commercial Product
Description:	The detector is a vehicle-mounted instrument used to detect, grade and map gas leaks along underground pipelines. The survey bas includes an IR transmitter and receiver for natural gas detection. The display unit in the vehicle provides the gas concentration, GPS location and the detection level...