California's massive gas leak prompts new interest in detection technology

The ongoing methane leak from an underground reservoir run by SoCalGas has spurred a new search for innovative ways to detect large scale gas leaks

Big environmental disasters often highlight the role new technologies can play in prevention. That is proving to be the case with the ongoing methane leak at a vast underground storage field run by Southern California Gas (SoCalGas), which is facing regulatory mandates to improve air quality monitoring.

The South Coast Air Quality Management District's board will consider a proposal this Saturday that will require SoCalGas to use better leak detection technology at the storage site called Aliso Canyon, which is made up of roughly 3,600 acres of former depleted oil fields. Aliso Canyon helps to serve 21.4 million people in central and southern California.