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

A method for remote detection of fluid leaks from a natural gas or oil pipeline by use of a DIAL system in an airborne platform comprising:

• a) illuminating simultaneously a target area of e-two or more target fluids and a target background with at least two separate online laser light sources and a separate offline laserlight source, respectively, wherein the two or more target fluids include two or more online absorption wavelengths, and the target background includes an offline non-absorption wavelength being a different wavelength than either of the two or more online absorption wavelengths;
• b) generating and changing, separately for each of the light sources, a selected wavelength corresponding to the two or more target fluids and the target background;
• c) pointing the light sources based on a positioning system;
• d) scanning a geometric area along a path using the light sources;
• e) detecting the two or more target fluids and the target background using quantitative signal processing, and simultaneously measuring the two or more target fluids' concentration path-length, using a relationship of a ratio between (1) a normalized returned offline laser signal and (2) each of a normalized returned online laser signal;
• f) positioning the airborne platform using path planning and path finding means;
• and
• g) communicating presence of a detected leak from the natural gas or oil pipeline.

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

• a) two or more separate laser light sources for simultaneously illuminating a target area of two or more target fluids and a separate laser light source for simultaneously illuminating a target background;
• b) means for selecting two or more online wavelengths corresponding to absorption wavelengths of the two or more target fluids and one offline wave-length corresponding to a non-absorption wavelength of the background, wherein the background has a different wavelength than either of the two or more target fluids;
• c) means for generating and changing, separately for each of the light sources, a selected wavelength corresponding to each of the two or more target fluids and the background;
• d) means for pointing the light sources based on a positioning system;
• e) means for scanning a geometric area along a path using the light sources;
• f) means for signal detection and measuring characteristics of the two or more target fluids and the background, wherein means for measuring includes simultaneously measuring the two or more target fluids' concentration path-length, using a relationship of a ratio between (1) a normalized returned offline laser signal and (2) each of a normalized returned online laser signal;
• g) signal processing means for remote quantitative processing of the two or more target fluids;
• h) means for path planning and path finding for positioning of the airborne plafform;
• and
• i) means for communicating presence of a detected leak from the natural gas or oil pipeline.

A system for remote quantitative real time detection of fluids by use of an airborne platform comprising:

• a) at least three laser light sources for nearly simultaneous illumination of a same target area of two or more target fluids and a target background, wherein the two or more target fluids are characterized by two or more absorption wavelengths, and the target background has a non-absorption wavelength, which is a different wavelength than either of the two or more target fluids;
• b) means for generating and dynamically changing, in real time, for each of the light sources, a selected wavelength corresponding to the two or more target fluids over a range of wavelengths;
• c) means for positioning the light sources based on a positioning system;
• d) means for scanning for the two or more target fluids in a geometric area along a path using the light sources;
• e) means for real time signal detection and quantitative processing of the two or more target fluids;
• f) real time signal processing means for simultaneously measuring the two or more target fluids' concentration path-length, using a relationship of a ratio between (1) a normalized returned offline laser signal and (2) each of a normalized returned online laser signal;
• g) means for path planning and path finding for positioning of the airborne platform;
• and
• h) means for communicating presence of the detected fluids.

A method for remote quantitative detection of fluids by use of an airborne platform comprising:

• a) nearly simultaneously illuminating a same target area of two or more target fluids and a target background with at least three laser light sources, wherein the two or more target fluids are characterized by two or more absorption wavelengths, and the background has a different wavelength than either of the two or more target fluids;
• b) pointing the light sources relative to a positioning system;
• c) scanning for the two or more target fluids in a geometric area along a path using the light sources;
• d) detecting the two or more target fluids in real time using quantitative real time signal processing, and simultaneously measuring the two or more target fluids' concentration path-length, using a relationship of a ratio between (1) a normalized returned offline laser signal and (2) each of a normalized returned online laser signal;
• e) generating and dynamically changing, in real time, for each of the light sources, a selected wavelength corresponding to the two or more target fluids over a range of wavelengths;
• f) positioning of the airborne platform using path planning and path finding means;
• and
• g) communicating presence of the detected fluid.

A method for remote quantitative detection of fluids by use of an airborne platform comprising:

• a) nearly simultaneously illuminating a same target area of two or more target fluids and a target background with at least three laser light sources, wherein the two or more target fluids are characterized by two or more absorption wavelengths, and the target background has a different wavelength than either of the two or more target fluids;
• b) pointing the light sources relative to a positioning system;
• c) scanning for the two or more target fluids in a geometric area along a path using the light sources;
• d) receiving supplemental target information from a source;
• e) detecting the two or more target fluids in real time using quantitative real time signal processing and simultaneously measuring the two or more target fluids' concentration path-length, usinq a relationship of a ratio between (1) a normalized returned offline laser signal and (2) each of a normalized returned online laser signal;
• f) generating and dynamically changing, in real time, for each of the light sources, based upon the supplemental target information, a selected wavelength corresponding to the two or more target fluids over a range of wavelengths;
• g) positioning of the airborne plafform using path planning and path finding means;
• and
• h) communicating presence of the detected fluid.