Picarro surveyor technology for Italgas network monitoring

Picarro Surveyor is the most cutting-edge technology existing today in the field of gas network monitoring activities. It was introduced in Italgas’ daily operations in 2018 and thanks to its innovation has contributed to bringing the fugitive emissions rate close to 0.1%.

Picarro employs a sophisticated sensing technology called CRDS (Cavity Ring-Down Spectroscopy) which, compared to traditional technologies, offers important advantages in terms of the speed of execution of monitoring activities and the extent of the areas monitored.

It is mounted on special vehicles, which have equipment that detects wind speed and direction. It is also available in ‘backpack’ mode to search for gas leaks on foot in areas where the passage of vehicles is not allowed. More recently, it has been installed on board the Italgas boats used in the Venice Lagoon.

Specifically, Picarro guarantees a detection sensitivity of the presence of gas in the air three orders of magnitude higher than those currently used by other operators in the sector (parts per billion versus parts per million). It doesn’t need to follow the route of the underground network, thus obviating the problem of possible obstacles along the way. In addition, Picarro detects not only the presence of methane but also ethane, thus returning a more accurate result regarding the quantity of gas molecules in the air, quickly and accurately providing the location of the possible source of the gas leak.

More insights from Italgas:
Gas DSOs play an active role in achieving EU climate targets
DANA: A command-and-control system for the Italgas networks

The adoption of the technology is part of the broader process of digitisation of assets and processes that Italgas has been pursuing for years, aimed at providing an increasingly efficient, sustainable and safe service for the communities and territories in which it operates. In particular, Picarro has enabled the company to achieve important results since its introduction, making it possible to control a total number of kilometres of network equal to 150% more than the minimum standards set by the regulatory authority, i.e. approximately 38,000 kilometres of network against the 15,000 required.

About Italgas

Italgas is the leading Italian operator in gas distribution and the third in Europe. It manages a distribution network that covers a total of more than 82,000 kilometres serving 8.3 million customers, holding 2,039 concessions in Italy and Greece. It is also active in the energy efficiency, IT and water sectors.