Direct Imaging Of Shale Gas Leaks Using Passive Thermal Infrared Hyperspectral Imaging

Many types of natural gas from shale formations, including methane (CH4), are odorless, colorless, and highly flammable making leaks and emanations important considerations for safety and the environment. Telops has recently launched the Hyper-Cam Methane, a field-deployable thermal infrared hyperspectral camera specially tuned for detecting methane infrared spectral features under ambient conditions and over large distances. This application note illustrates the benefits of using this imager at a site where shale gas leaked unexpectedly during a geological survey near the Enfant-Jesus hospital in Quebec City, Canada, during December 2014. Download the full article for how quantitative methane imaging and optical flow analysis were carried out based on methane’s unique infrared spectral signature, and how the results could be used for advanced research on shale gases.