The provided map outlines a region of 151 kilometres of gas mains in the city of Medicine Hat.--MAP COURTESY CITY OF MEDICINE HAT
On Monday the City of Medicine Hat will begin its annual leak surgery and infrastructure assessment on the local gas distribution network.
This year, the city has introduced a mobile detection unit to supplement the usual in-person walking assessments in order to complete the 7,264 residential and commercial service inspections, as well was 1,521 kilometres of gas main.
Each year, the city deploys contractors to inspect critical infrastructure in order to evaluate and maintain the integrity of the natural gas delivery system.
The city says the mobile guard unit deployed is a vehicle-mounted “super sniffer” manufactured by global technology leader ABB that utilizes an anemometer to identify wind direction and a pump that samples air quality as it drives. The device measures the level of methane in the air sample and tracks the location and severity on a map.
In a release, the city says the mobile device can also detect and inform whether any recorded methane is likely to be naturally occurring, or if it is gas coming from a pipeline. The contracted vehicle will drive streets and alleys in the inspection boundaries each evening Monday through Sunday from 7 p.m. to 2 a.m., and can be identified by equipment mounted don the rood and a decal reading Hetek Solutions.
Similar to previous years, contractors will also conduct physical onsite inspections of individual gas services during the hours of 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. The city contracts will be in and around each yard of the designated inspection area to survey pipes, riser, regulators, meters and more. Those contractors will carry city identification.
The city says access to each property exterior is necessary, and if a contractor is unable to gain access, they will leave a notification slip with a phone number to call to arrange inspection. They also say, due to the amount of infrastructure requiring inspection, it is not possible to seek permission from each property owner prior to entering their yards.
