Apparatus and method for validating leak survey results

A validation system for validating a leak survey result obtained from an OGI infrared camera, the validation system coupled to an infrared thermography camera that captures the infrared image of a scene, the validation system including a machine readable storage medium that provides instructions that cause a machine apparatus to perform operations to validate the leak survey result, the operations comprising:

• acquiring an apparent temperature of each pixel of the infrared image of the scene;
• acquiring a temperature of the gas plume or ambient air from a temperature sensor that is coupled to the validation system;
• calculating a temperature difference of said each pixel between the apparent temperature of said each pixel and the temperature of the gas plume or ambient air;
• comparing the temperature difference of said each pixel to a predetermined threshold value;
• and
• identifying areas in the scene where absolute values of the temperature difference are smaller than the predetermined threshold value, and identifying the areas in the scene as unsuitable for an OGI leak survey and as the leak survey for these areas is invalid.

A method for validating a leak survey result, the method comprising:

• capturing an infrared image of a scene from which the leak survey result is to be obtained, the infrared image being captured by an infrared camera system;
• acquiring an apparent temperature of each pixel of the infrared image of the scene;
• acquiring a temperature of the gas plume or ambient air;
• calculating a temperature difference of said each pixel between the apparent temperature of said each pixel and the temperature of the gas plume or ambient air;
• comparing the temperature difference of said each pixel to a predetermined threshold value;
• and
• identifying areas in the scene where absolute values of the temperature difference are smaller than the predetermined threshold value, and identifying the areas in the scene as unsuitable for an OGI leak survey and as the leak survey for these areas is invalid.