Onshore and Offshore Oil and Gas
Pipeline Operations, Maintenance
and Management.
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Learn on: pipeline leak
detection
• External continuous leak detection systems
• Fibre optic cable
• Acoustic systems
• Sensor hoses
• Video monitoring
• Internal continuous leak detection systems
• Pressure point analysis
• Mass balance method
• Statistical systems
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Introduction to pipeline leakage
Leakage
This is the loss of the containment
Pipeline leakage
Hence is the loss the product from the pipeline which may
further escalate to further problems like spills, fire, explosion
and so on
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Introduction to pipeline leakage
Leakage
This is the loss of the containment
Pipeline leakage
Hence is the loss the product from the pipeline which may
further escalate to further problems like spills, fire, explosion
and so on.
Leak detection
This is the means of identifying any loss of containment in
the pipeline, can include quantity and location
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Leak detection systems
Leakage detection system must be
• Sensitive :minimum detectable rates and time taken to be
detected
• Reliable: false alarms are avoided but detect actual leaks
• Accurate: localization of leaks
• Robust: operation of detection system under abnormal
operation condition
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Causes of leaks
There are various causes of leaks in the pipeline which
includes,
• Fatigue cracks
• Stress corrosion
• Material manufacturing errors
• External influence
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Leak detection methods
The leak detection methods can be Continuous or Non-
Continuous
Non-Continuous detection methods
• Inspection: physical or by helicopters
• Smart pigging
• Tracking dogs
Continuous detection method can be internal or external
system
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Leak detection methods
External continuous leak detection systems
• Fibre optic cable
• Acoustic systems
• Sensor hoses
• Video monitoring
Internal continuous leak detection systems
• Pressure point analysis
• Mass balance method
• Statistical systems
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Helicopter leak detection
The helicopter flies along the pipeline, looking to detect any
outflowing gas
Leak detection by helicopter can use three options
• Laser: set to absorb wavelength of the detected medium
• Infrared: uses the infrared video cameras which highlight
the spectrum of infrared wavelength.
• Leak sniffers: draw air samples to analyze leaked product
by measuring concentration
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Pigging leak detection
Will be discussed separately
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What is Pigging? Used Of Pigging || How To Cle
an A Pipeline Internally?
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Dog leak detection
These dogs are specially trained to recognize the odor of
certain compounds which are injected into the pipeline to be
inspected.
The pipeline is then operated as usual and the dog is led
along the right of-way path, sniffing for the compound.
The use of tracking dogs usually only takes place with short
pipelines or segments of pipeline. It is also a good method
when it is not possible to accurately localize the leak using
other methods and then the dogs can be used to further
narrow down the leak site.
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Fibre optic leak detection
The use of fiber optic cables for the continuous external
monitoring of leaks is based on physical changes that occur
at the leak site. One of those physical changes is a typical
change in temperature profile.
To detect such changes, the fiber optic cable is placed along
the pipeline. A laser then emits pulses that are reflected by
molecules in the fiber optic cable.
The reflected laser pulse magnitude gives insight as to the
temperature at the place where the photon hits the molecule.
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Acoustic signal leak detection
Detecting leaks using acoustic signals is possible because
an acoustic signal is created when gases or liquids flow
through a crack or hole in the pipeline. Acoustic sensors are
installed outside of the pipeline to detect leaks by measuring
the noise levels at multiple sites along the pipeline.
This information is used to create a noise profile of the
pipeline.
Deviations from the baseline noise profile that is created
results in the leak alarm.
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Infrared leak detection
Detecting gas leaks using infrared is made possible through
video cameras featuring a special filter which is sensitive to a
selected spectrum of infrared wavelengths.
Certain hydrocarbons absorb infrared radiation from this
spectrum.
This makes it possible to detect the leaks as an image of
smoke on the video display.
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Sensor hoses leak detection
When using sensor hoses, a semi-permeable hose is
installed along the pipeline. In the event of a leak, the
medium comes out of the pipeline and into the hose.
In a timed cycle, a test gas is injected into the hose at the
beginning of the pipeline. Then the contents of the hose are
pumped to the end of the pipeline.
There is an analyzing unit at the end which then tests the
hose contents for the presence of hydrocarbons. The run
time of the test gas injected at the inlet indicates the total run
time of the pipeline
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Leak localization
When leaks occur in pipelines, it is not enough to know that a
leak has occurred; you must also know where it is located.
Internal leak detection systems include:
• Gradient Intersection Method : Uses pressure profile to
detect the leak as the pressure drop should be linear
• Wave Propagation Method
• Extended Wave Propagation Method
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Leak localization
The Wave Propagation Method uses the sound velocity of
the medium in the pipeline.
Spontaneously occurring leaks create a negative pressure
wave which propagates in both directions of the pipeline at
the speed of sound.
Pressure gauges at the inlet and outlet record these
pressure waves and we obtain the point in time at which the
pressure wave reached the sensors.
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Q&A Session
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Questions
1. What is a primary function of pigging in pipeline
maintenance?
Answer: Cleaning and inspecting pipelines
2. Acoustic leak detection relies on:
Answer:. Sound waves generated by escaping fluid
3. Infrared thermography detects pipeline leaks by
observing:
Answer:. Temperature differences on the pipeline surface
4. What type of data do fiber optic cables primarily transmit
for leak detection systems?
Answer: Temperature and strain variations
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1. Sensor hoses are primarily used to:
Answer:. Detect pressure loss or presence of leaked substances
2. Which type of pig is used for detecting corrosion inside a
pipeline?
Answer:. Intelligent pig
3. A benefit of distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) in pipelines is:
Answer:. Real-time continuous monitoring over long distances
4. Which of the following best describes leak localization?
Answer: Identifying the exact position of a leak
5. In fiber optic leak detection, which method is used to detect
temperature changes?
Answer: Raman scattering
6. What is the main advantage of using infrared cameras for leak
detection? 26
