System and method for remote quantitative detection of fluid leaks from a natural gas or oil pipeline

A system for remote quantitative detection of fluid leaks from a natural gas or oil pipeline by use of an airborne platform;

• comprising:
• a) at least one laser light source for nearly simultaneous illuminating essentially a same target area of two or more target fluids and a background, wherein the two or more target fluids are characterized by two or more absorption wavelengths, and wherein the background has a different wavelength than either of the two or more target fluids;
• b) means for pointing the illumination source based on a positioning system;
• c) means for scanning for the two or more target fluids in a geometric area along a path using the illumination source;
• d) means for signal detection such that a quantitative processing of detection of the two or more target fluids is accomplished;
• e) means for controlling operation of the system;
• f) signal processing means for the remote quantitative detection of the two or more target fluid leaks;
• g) means for path planning and path finding for the positioning of the airborne platform;
• and
• h) means for communicating presence of the detected leak from the natural gas or oil pipeline.