Guidance for Planning and Conducting Effective Leak Detection and Repair Surveys with Optical Gas Imaging Cameras

The document outlines a nine-step workflow for effective LDAR surveys, emphasizing the coordination between certified LDAR surveyors, onsite personnel, and compliance managers. It details specific technical requirements for OGI camera use, such as observing components from at least two angles and spending a minimum of 2 seconds per component. The guidance covers the entire lifecycle from pre-survey planning and site verification to leak documentation, repair strategies (immediate, scheduled, or deferred), and mandatory re-surveys within 15 days to confirm mitigation. It also highlights common pitfalls, such as operator fatigue and the misclassification of designed-to-vent equipment, while referencing U.S. EPA Appendix K for specific timing and stability standards.

• Effective LDAR surveys require a coordinated team consisting of a certified LDAR surveyor (a certified thermographer), onsite personnel who provide process context, and a compliance manager responsible for regulatory documentation and mitigation actions.
• During component examination, surveyors should use enhanced or High Sensitivity Mode and observe each component from at least two different angles. Observation times vary by scene complexity: simple scenes (10 or fewer components) require 15-20 seconds per scene, while complex scenes require at least 2 seconds per component per angle.
• Leak documentation must include a thermal imaging recording of at least 10 seconds that shows the leaking component and the gas plume. Surveyors should also capture digital photographs or video to help maintenance teams locate leaks in complex infrastructure.
• The guidance distinguishes between different types of emissions, noting that while abnormal or excessive venting is classified as a leak, intentional process or equipment venting is not.
• Repair strategies are categorized into three timelines: immediate repairs for minor leaks, regularly scheduled repairs for those requiring controlled conditions, and deferred repairs for major issues requiring shutdowns or parts, which must be placed on a Delay of Repair (DOR) list with justification.
• To verify the effectiveness of repairs, components must be re-surveyed using the same protocols and personnel as the original survey, typically within 15 days of the repair.

APA

Clean Air Task Force (n.d.). Guidance for Planning and Conducting Effective Leak Detection and Repair Surveys with Optical Gas Imaging Cameras. https://cdn.catf.us/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/26152005/Guidance-for-Planning-and-Conducting-Effective-Leak-Detection-and-Repair-Surveys-with-Optical-Gas-Imaging-Cameras.pdf

Chicago

Clean Air Task Force. Guidance for Planning and Conducting Effective Leak Detection and Repair Surveys with Optical Gas Imaging Cameras. n.d. https://cdn.catf.us/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/26152005/Guidance-for-Planning-and-Conducting-Effective-Leak-Detection-and-Repair-Surveys-with-Optical-Gas-Imaging-Cameras.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Clean Air Task Force |title=Guidance for Planning and Conducting Effective Leak Detection and Repair Surveys with Optical Gas Imaging Cameras |url=https://cdn.catf.us/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/26152005/Guidance-for-Planning-and-Conducting-Effective-Leak-Detection-and-Repair-Surveys-with-Optical-Gas-Imaging-Cameras.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{cleanairtaskforcendguidance, author = {{Clean Air Task Force}}, title = {{Guidance for Planning and Conducting Effective Leak Detection and Repair Surveys with Optical Gas Imaging Cameras}}, institution = {Clean Air Task Force}, url = {https://cdn.catf.us/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/26152005/Guidance-for-Planning-and-Conducting-Effective-Leak-Detection-and-Repair-Surveys-with-Optical-Gas-Imaging-Cameras.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }