Skip to content

Now It’s Radish Gas …

4 comments

IN NORTHWEST OHIO, THE TIFFIN TOWNSHIP VFD is patiently responding to every “smell of gas” call that is triggered from a field of rotting radishes.

A farmer’s field has been planted with oilseed radishes, a cover crop that adds nutrients to the soil, where they are being left to rot and do their ground-feeding thing.  Unfortunately, the field is not far from a natural gas pipeline compression station and wary neighbors are confused about the powerful odor wafting over the township.  The Tiffin VFD has gotten five investigation calls in the past 45 days and they responsibly check all of them out, even though it takes an hour to complete the search.

A pipeline technician with the TransCanada natural gas compression station said the gas stored at the facility is odorless.

The Associated Press reported HERE.

Posted by on February 9, 2010 • Filed under: Fire Rescue Topics, Fire-ology • Tagged: , ,
  • beardy53

    Hi Guys
    One interesting point about the pipeline if the gas is odourless how you tell when there is a leek
    Excuse the bad pun
    But if the gas does not pong how can you detect leaks

  • firegeezer

    No doubt the compression station is well-monitored.  Natural gas has no odor.  Here in the States a chemical called Mercaptan is introduced into the pipeline by the local gas company to give it that distinctive smell.  The mercaptan is delivered to the gas company in tanker trucks and if one of those babies leaks, the phone calls never stop! 

    But that was a clever pun, Beardy

    FG

    ________________________________

  • beardy53

    Hi Guys
    One interesting point about the pipeline if the gas is odourless how you tell when there is a leek
    Excuse the bad pun
    But if the gas does not pong how can you detect leaks

  • firegeezer

    No doubt the compression station is well-monitored.  Natural gas has no odor.  Here in the States a chemical called Mercaptan is introduced into the pipeline by the local gas company to give it that distinctive smell.  The mercaptan is delivered to the gas company in tanker trucks and if one of those babies leaks, the phone calls never stop! 

    But that was a clever pun, Beardy

    FG

    ________________________________