Where is gas pipe located?

Natural gas is used for heating, hot water and cooking among other uses. Pipes carrying natural gas can range in size and material. Most piping used for natural gas lines is made of conductive material, making it more easily identifiable in a GPR scan.

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What happens if you hit a buried gas line?                

Gas lines are among the most dangerous buried utilities. Gas leaks can occur with even the smallest amount of damage, and are not always easy to identify since natural gas is odorless, tasteless, and colorless. It’s typically laced with a compound that gives it its distinctive Sulphur smell for identification. A damaged gas line can lead to gas buildup within the area, but can also back up further down the line. Gas is highly flammable and something as small as a spark from a cellphone could lead to a major explosion. When dealing with potential gas leaks it’s important to immediately evacuate the area in order to prevent death or injury.

How can GPRS help you locate buried gas lines?                

GPRS is skilled at using ground penetrating radar (GPR) to locate all types of buried utilities. The GPR equipment sends a signal into the ground, bouncing off of buried material to create a reading. This reading is used to determine approximate location of the utility or material in question. Ground penetrating radar a non-destructive solution to locating buried utilities.

GPRS Project Managers undergo rigorous training and are top in the field of private utility location. However, it is not always easy to distinguish between different types of utility readings. If there are any doubts about the type of material located, the signal can be traced back to its source- in this case a potential gas line could be traced back to a meter. If there is still confusion about the type of utility, the elevation of the buried utility is cross-checked with any existing plans. It is our job to take the guess work out of your excavation and we do everything possible to ensure that this happens.

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How accurate are the GPR readings?                

GPRS project managers are skilled at using GPR equipment to identify the location of buried utilities. We have an accuracy within 6 inches to the center of the utility, and a depth accuracy at +/- 10-15%.

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How will I know where to dig?                

Our Project Managers will walk you through their findings, ensuring you have a clear understanding of the location of buried sewer lines. All findings are carefully marked out on site- we typically use spray paint and markers for projects which are underway. A detailed GPS plan or AutoCAD drawing can be compiled in order to preserve this information for future use.

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Note: GPRS does not provide geophysical, geological, land surveying or engineering services.  If you need such services, please contact an appropriate professional.        

Pipeline Maps

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) provides online maps to help you  locate pipelines in or near your community through the National Pipeline Mapping System (NPMS).  Maps generated by NPMS show the approximate location of gas and hazardous liquids transmission pipelines in relation to specific addresses, major roads, zip codes, cities and counties. NPMS does NOT include gathering or distribution pipelines.  Some states regulatory agencies also provide maps showing the general location of pipelines in their state.

You can use NPMS to obtain contact information for transmission pipeline operators.  Operator contact information typically includes the operator’s name, product transported, contact name and phone number.  A summary of active mileage by county in xlsx format is available from their General Public Page.  The file that was current as of 2-23-2023 is available here.  It contains an additional summary table that can be expanded to show mileage for each product at the county level.