One of the most commonly cited arguments against erecting and using pipelines to transport oil and gas, is that of the potential leaking of these compounds into the environment. These leaks can infiltrate water systems, kill wildlife and contaminate soil. In many instances, pipeline owners are unaware of leaks. In Alberta (Canada), it was found that, on average, it can take as long as 48 days to respond to and isolate a pipeline leak (according to the Alberta Energy Regulator)¹. In Canada alone, there are an estimated 825,000 kilometers of pipeline infrastructure already in operation². The depth of cover for pipelines varies, depending on where the pipeline is located, creating significant challenges when monitoring pipelines for leaks. Identifying gas seepages is significantly easier than liquid leaks, as gases rise up out of the ground. Liquids, on the other hand, seep down into the ground, compounding the issue. In this work, a novel fabrication process for a single use, low-cost liquid hydrocarbon sensor has been developed. The process is simple, and the materials are readily available and low cost. The film has controllable hydrophilicity and can present amphiphilic properties, as well as strong electrical conductivity.

We have successfully applied this film as a sensor for the presence of hydrocarbons that could be found in the event of a leak from an oil pipeline. The sensor responds rapidly to alkanes of varying lengths and has also shown strong responses to both functionalized hydrocarbons and aromatics. The sensor is both inexpensive and easy to manufacture, with scale-up being a matter of simply using a larger container for the synthesis. The sensor does not respond to water, a potential interferent for a sensor placed in soil, and has shown good stability towards dessication and long-term storage. Combined, this supports the application of such a device for the field detection of organic compounds commonly found in the presence of an oil spill or pipeline leak.