Southern Company Gas 2022 Sustainability Executive Summary Final 4.19.23 - Flipbook - Page 19
Advanced Leak
Detection and Repair
We continually monitor and perform regular system
inspections to ensure safety, security, reliability and
resiliency. We conduct leak surveys of our pipelines in
accordance with Federal Pipeline Safety Regulations
using a combination of aerial, vehicular, dive and foot
surveys with cutting-edge electronic leak detection
equipment. Our transmission lines and business districts
undertake annual surveys, while remaining distribution
pipelines undergo surveys on a three- or five-year
schedule, according to regulations.
We leverage innovative technology to advance our
leak detection and repair efforts. For example, we
deploy mobile methane detection using highly precise
spectroscopy technology, which can be mounted on
vehicles. This equipment detects methane within
600 feet and provides accompanying quantification
and measurement. The technology uses advanced
analytics-driven leak detection and methane emissions
quantification tools to broaden our leak detection
capabilities and better inform pipeline integrity
initiatives, thereby enhancing our system safety. By
deploying this technology and others like it, we will be
better able to detect, measure and quantify operational
Additionally, we are working with NYSEARCH, a
voluntary sub-organization within the Northeast
Gas Association comprised primarily of gas
distribution companies, on a project to enhance our
leak detection capabilities. This project enables
Southern Company Gas to better detect fugitive
methane leaks within structures by identifying the
best locations to place detectors to improve safety
while avoiding false positives.
We are expanding our use of other technologies,
including drones, satellites, stationary monitors and
artificial intelligence-enabled cloud computing
platforms, to better detect leaks. In 2023, we are
planning to deploy Advanced Leak Detection
Technology (Picarro Mobile Technology) as part of the
core approach for performing safety and compliance
surveys in our business districts. Virginia Natural Gas
also achieved full coverage of its distribution system
using the Picarro Mobile Technology. The tool allows us
to detect leakages and perform the measurement and
quantification of methane emissions more accurately. In
addition, Virginia Natural Gas became one of the first
natural gas utilities in the state to use camera drones to
conduct some right-of-way assessments and inspect
critical infrastructure. This technology enables faster
and safer pipeline inspections.
methane emissions and provide data-supported
guidance on the impact of our operational activities.
Using Cross-Compression
Technology to Reduce
Methane Releases
All Southern Company Gas distribution operations utilize
cross-compression technology to recover methane that
would otherwise be released to the environment during a
growing number of pipeline maintenance and inspection
projects. When this technology is used for a project, up to
99% of the gas is recycled back into the pipeline system
for continued use. As a result, in 2022, we avoided the
release of approximately 21,000 MMBtu of natural gas,
which represents an estimated 9,061 metric tons of CO2e.
2022 Sustainability Executive Summary
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