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MEASUREMENT OF METHANE EMISSIONS FROM UNDERGROUND DISTRIBUTION MAINS AND SERVICES
Citation:
Campbell, L. MEASUREMENT OF METHANE EMISSIONS FROM UNDERGROUND DISTRIBUTION MAINS AND SERVICES. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C., EPA/600/A-95/018.
Description:
The paper reports results of measurements of methane emissions from underground distribution mains and services. he losses from the underground distribution network were estimated to be a significant source of methane emissions from the natural gas industry. ata acquired through a cooperative program with the Gas Research Institute, the U.S. EPA, and a number of gas distribution companies confirm that the losses are significant from certain parts of the distribution system. n the program, leakage from underground distribution systems is estimated by combining leak measurements with historical leak record data and the length of underground pipe to determine the average leakage rate per unit length of pipe. he leakage rate per mile is multiplied by the miles of pipe to estimate the total leakage from the buried pipe within the system. he leak measurement apparatus consists of a series of progressively larger laminar flow elements (LFES) that can rapidly and very accurately measure a pressure differential across the LFE and be converted into a flow rate. he measurement technique can be used to quantify leakage from various pipe materials within the distribution network. tatistically significant differences in leakage between mains and services and the various pipe materials have been found.