The Problem
Natural gas distribution infrastructure is deeply ingrained in every aspect of human life and growing more popular, providing public safety and supporting global economies. These systems, however, become more susceptible to failures as they age and degrade. Thus, a pipeline incident is reported every 40 hours in the United States alone, a staggeringly high number which does not include the roughly half a million fugitive, or undetected leaks estimated to be present in the US’s gas distribution pipelines. These incidents cost billions of dollars, and also injure or displace those living near them. Even greater in scope are the economic impacts of natural gas leaks, which spread to all corners of the globe due to methane pollution. Methane is considered a super pollutant thirty times worse than CO2, and it is estimated that undetected fugitive leaks across the United States release 7 million tons into the atmosphere annually. Despite the current problems, gas leak inspection technology has struggled to keep pace with the rapid proliferation of the problem. Given that renewables only provide a relatively small fraction of energy, and the timeline for fully shifting to renewables extends far into the future, it is clear that natural gas still remains the center of energy supplies, demanding that we keep it as green as possible through eliminating unnecessary emissions.
Why this problem exists
One major cause of this is the harsh environments that gas pipes are currently found in as well as the complex nature of gas distribution systems themselves, such as wellheads. Current approaches, including hydrostatic testing and optical gas imaging, are inefficient, costly, and prone to human error. Hand-held inspection or leak detection “sniffer trucks” have limited access to remote locations. Together, these factors mean that leaks are often left undiscovered, or not discovered in time to prevent catastrophic incidents. Gas leak detection presents an under-addressed problem in a critical field, and our innovation would not only benefit public safety and the environment, but could impact global energy systems in other oil-producing countries.
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The inability to reliably monitor gas pipelines contributes to significant economic losses, as undetected leaks waste valuable resources and lead to costly repairs. Additionally, methane leaks have a profound environmental impact, as methane is a potent greenhouse gas that exacerbates global warming at a rate over 25 times greater than carbon dioxide over a 100-year period. Advancements in detection technology would not only help operators reduce these emissions but also align with international climate goals, such as the Global Methane Pledge. Furthermore, by improving detection efficiency and accessibility in challenging terrains, this innovation could open up new opportunities for infrastructure modernization and contribute to the development of smarter, more sustainable energy networks worldwide.
About Us
SPIRo, standing for "Soft Pipe Inspection Robot," is a novel soft robot with revolutionizes detection of methane emissions. Founded by Evan Zhang and Eddie Zhang, SPIRo represents their combined passion for technological innovations and the environment. After experiencing a pipeline explosion themselves, they gained an interest in energy infrastructure sustainability. The company focusses on creating a greener, sustainable future and making it accessible to all globally. By preventing methane emissions from gas pipeline leaks on a global scale, we hope to improve public safety and shift our energy infrastructure to a greener, sustainable future.
