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Summary
Executive summary ................................................................................... p 1 Introduction ............................................................................................... p 2 CPM methods for pipeline leak detection.................................................... p 4 How to choose or evaluate a leak detection system.................................... p 5 High consequence areas ........................................................................... p 6 API 1149 .................................................................................................... p 7 Leak detection challenges ......................................................................... p 8 External based leak detection .................................................................... p 9 Real-time transient model vs. other CPMs. ................................................ p 10 When you want volume balance CPM........................................................ p 11 When you want a real-time transient model................................................ p 12 Association of oil pipe lines rupture monitoring. .......................................... p 13 Conclusion ................................................................................................ p 14
Executive summary
Burgeoning energy exploration is driving the construction of pipeline systems for hydrocarbon transportation. For a variety of reasons, including renewed scrutiny on safety by regulators, this is also driving new practices and standards for leak detection. Computational pipeline monitoring (CPM) systems use real-time information from the field such as pressure, temperature, viscosity, density, flow rate, product sonic velocity and product interface locations to estimate the hydraulic behavior of the product being transported and create a computerized simulation. With it, controllers can be alerted to abnormal operating conditions that might signal the existence of a pipeline leak. Different CPM methodologies provide different leak detection capabilities, so different methods, or a combination of methods, might be better applied to different operations. Selection of the right CPM for a given company or given pipeline relies on the thorough evaluation of several factors, including pipeline characteristics, business objectives, additional risk factors and special safety concerns, such as proximity to environmentally sensitive or urban areas. New standards and industry initiatives provide tools to assist in this evaluation, ensuring the pipeline industry continues to provide efficient, effective and safe hydrocarbon transportation.
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Introduction
Kalamazoo River, Mayflower, Grand Marsh, Bonga Field, Little Buffalo all places that represent the sites of pipeline spills in the last several years. The rash of significant incidents has many countries spending more and more time investigating the pipeline industrys safety practices. This comes at a time when the opening of new oil and natural gas plays around the world is putting growing pressure on new pipeline development. Changing attitudes around the world necessitate that pipeline companies vigorously take on the goal of increased safety and reassess their abilities to detect and mitigate product leaks. The consequences of not doing so endanger not only the business of individual companies but the reputation of the industry as a whole. The positive side of this discussion is that significant investments have been made in recent years to develop a new array of industry standards and best practices, as well as continual advancements in the technology that supports leak detection. Of all the different methods for detecting pipeline leaks, whats observed on the control room operators console is almost always the best warning system. Computer-based leak detection is a common industry application that supports the safety of the general population and environment and helps sustain efficient operations and facility management. This paper provides an overview of liquids pipeline leak detection best practices based on Computational Pipeline Monitoring (CPM) software applications. These best practices follow dictates of governmental regulations in place or proposed worldwide, as well as recommendations from leading industry agencies. More importantly, this paper discusses the process for selecting the best leak detection system and reviews the best practice criteria operators need to consider. The goal is to help companies find the right intersection between risk, cost and above all else, safety.
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Statistical leak detection pressure and flow inputs that define the perimeter of the pipeline are statistically evaluated in real time for the presence of patterns associated with a leak Real-time transient model all the fluid dynamic characteristics are modeled, including line pack, slack, shut-in and transients, under all pipeline flow conditions. A very detailed configuration with very fast calculations and the ability to model hydrocarbons in any phase Important differentiators between real-time transient model detection systems and volume balance systems include increased leak detection sensitivity, fewer false alarms and better leak location estimation. These differentiators allow real-time transient models to perform leak detection across a wide range of pipelines, from simple to complex, transporting many different products under a broad range of operating conditions. They are key to help improve and facilitate effective response times, especially in environmentally sensitive and urban areas.
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The most important objective in selecting a leak detection system is that the chosen solution must be able to assist the controller in identifying a leak event within a sufficient period of time that mitigates the safety and environmental risk to a level that is acceptable for the stakeholders in a particular pipeline, while also meeting the operating companys overall business objective and threshold for risk.
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API 1149
Although an American standard, the API 1149 is a best practice evaluation around the world. This is a theoretical analysis of a given leak detection systems ability to detect a leak of a given size, based on the specifications of a given pipeline. It weighs the time to detection against the size of the leak. While not always necessary to employ techniques that achieve the lowest theoretical capability as determined by 1149, it provides a measure to weigh against when analyzing the cost of leak detection systems against the risk of undetected leaks. As important, if not more so, the API 1149 calculations can assist pipeline operators in determining the benefit of specific pipeline infrastructure enhancements on their leak detection capability. For example, what increase in leak detection sensitivity can be achieved by adding, replacing, or upgrading instrumentation on all, or sections of a pipeline.
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Unfortunately, while external technologies can be retrofitted to existing pipelines, the fieldwork to do so is still relatively expensive, increasingly so the longer the pipeline. However, new and shorter pipelines are increasingly using external technologies and more and more these technologies are used in conjunction with a CPM based leak detection applications.
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Conclusion
Technological advances and aggressive exploration are opening up more and more hydrocarbon sources around the world. This will mean an increasing demand for pipeline development. It will also mean increasing pressure for pipeline operators to demonstrate and maintain effective safety practices, namely in leak detection and prevention, as regulators place more scrutiny on projects. Not only is this important for individual companies to maintain competitiveness in the market but it is important for the reputation and health of the industry as a whole. The upside is with greater focus on leak detection comes more advanced solutions and industry standards for guidance. CPMs provide a wide array of powerful solutions for pipeline companies to identify leaks, and even potential leaks, faster and with greater accuracy. Industry guidelines and assessment tools, such as API 1149 and AOPL rupture monitoring, give companies the tools to evaluate their program and implement the appropriate solution. Whether choosing a volume balance CPM or a real-time transient model, the selection needs to be based on a thorough evaluation of the business objective against the threshold for risk. At the intersection of those points is where companies will find the appropriate leak detection system solution.
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Schneider Electric
10333 Southport Rd SW, Ste 200 Calgary, AB T2W3X6 Phone: 1-403-212-2407 Fax: 1-403-259-2926 http://www.schneider-electric.com
May 2013