Reduction of Underground Gas Leaks

Written by Aanya Deshpande

Introduction

In one of my high school biology classes, my teacher instructed our class to research any topic of our choice and relate it back to biology. I decided to research unpopular climate change problems that do not have much awareness surrounding them, and I came across gas leaks. Gas leaks can not only affect homes, but they affect the whole atmosphere as well.

Problem

Pollution can occur right in front of us or right below us. Underground leaks can be a primary or secondary cause of climate change. Not only can these gas leaks quickly escape to the atmosphere, but they can also cause fires which is both a hazard to the ecosystem and to the atmosphere. For example, 4,200 burned home structures and 40 deaths occur every year because of gas leaks. It is much worse when gases like carbon monoxide and methane are leaked into the atmosphere.

Solution

One way to stop this would be to put sensors anywhere that a pipeline or any other gas containment structure is. When a sensor is triggered, a tube will be sent below the surface to act as a vacuum and pull all of the leaked gas into a smaller and stronger containment structure. After the gas is captured, it will be converted into energy. This method reduces the likelihood of gas releasing from the ground into the atmosphere.

References:

https://netl.doe.gov/sites/default/files/2018-05/scanner_technology_0104.pdf

Written by Aanya Deshpande from MEDILOQUY