Patent ID: 6995846
Filing Date: 2006-02-07
Classification: G01M,G01N

Abstract:
1. A differential absorption lidar (DIAL) system for remote detection of fluid leaks from a natural gas or oil pipeline by use of an airborne plafform comprising: a) at least two separate online laser light sources for simultaneously illuminating substantially a target area of two or more target fluids and a separate offline laser light source for illuminating a target background, wherein the two or more target fluids includes two or more online absorption wavelengths, and the background target includes an offline non-absorption wavelength, the offline non-absorption wavelength being a different wavelength than either of the two or more online absorption wavelengths; b) means for separately generating and changing, for each of the light sources, a selected wavelength corresponding to each of the two or more target fluids and the background; c) means for pointing the laser light sources based on a positioning system; d) means for scanning the laser light sources in a geometric area along a path; e) 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; f) means for path planning and path finding for positioning of the airborne platform; and g) means for communicating presence of a detected leak from the natural gas or oil pipeline.