Most concerns about environmental impacts and other risks from
leaking natural gas have focused on the fast-expanding
production end of America’s vast system of wells, compressors
and pipelines. But the urban maze of (often ancient) pipes that
carries gas to furnaces and stoves has long been known to be
leaking, as well. Earlier this year, to take a snapshot of this
problem, scientists from Boston University and Duke University
took equipment that detects methane — the main constituent of
natural gas — on a 785-mile van ride through Boston’s streets.
The result, published today in the journal Environmental
Pollution, is a map showing more than 3,300 spikes in gas
concentrations representing leaks of various sizes. [I'll add a
direct link soon.] My friend Beth Daley of the Boston Globe has
a thorough piece on the findings that is well worth reading.
Most of the leaks are minor, but some could pose an explosion
risk and they add up to a lot of lost money and an unnecessary
source of greenhouse gas emissions. [1