Can quantum tech boost fiber-optic oil, gas leak sensors?

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) – Researchers in Louisiana, Oklahoma and Tennessee are working to see whether quantum-enhanced fiber sensing could detect offshore oil and gas leaks before they’re big enough to damage the environment.

Louisiana State University assistant professor Jyotsna Sharma says current commercial techniques for leak detection are limited by environmental and background noises, including those from pumps and waves.

She thinks recent developments in quantum information science can greatly improve the monitoring.

She and University of Oklahoma associate professor Alberto Marino have a $750,000 grant to work with Oak Ridge National Laboratory on the three-year project.

After lab tests, the team will test new techniques at an LSU test well.