Opinion: The Story Behind Gas Leak Detection And The Terrible Price It Cost

Prior to 1937, he said gas leak detection generally relied on visual vegetation surveys looking for dead vegetation caused by venting leaks from both natural gas and manufactured gas (coal gasification). Federal regulations were minimal until Congress passed the Natural Gas Pipeline Safety Act of 1968. Leak detection is a requirement under the DOT Federal 192 regulations based on pipe location and material.  All natural gas companies must respond to public/customers leak and odor calls with appropriate leak detection technologies.

So, with natural gas becoming more prevalent is the job of detecting leaks getting more difficult?