Pipeline Leak Detection Handbook

Morgan Henrie, Philip Carpenter, R. Edward Nicholas

• Publisher: Gulf Professional Publishing
• Year: 2016
• ISBN:
  9780128025673
• Topic: Technology & Engineering
• Subtopic: Fossil Fuels
• Index: Technology & Engineering

Pipeline Leak Detection Handbook is a concise, detailed, and inclusive leak detection best practices text and reference book. It begins with the basics of leak detection technologies that include leak detection systems, and information on pipeline leaks, their causes, and subsequent consequences.

The book moves on to further explore system infrastructures, performance, human factors, installation, and integrity management, and is a must-have resource to help oil and gas professionals gain a comprehensive understanding of the identification, selection, design, testing, and implantation of a leak detection system.

• Informs oil and gas pipeline professionals on the basics of leak detection technologies, the required field instrumentation, telecommunication infrastructures, human factors, and risk mitigation considerations
• Leads the reader through the complex process of understanding the pipeline's unique environment and how to develop a leak detection program

Chapter 1

Introduction

Abstract

Petroleum pipelines are virtually everywhere. They are buried, constructed above the ground, and under water, including in the oceans and seas. Historically, these pipelines have been shown to develop leaks. Leak detection systems, which are the focus of this book, have been designed, implemented, operated, and maintained in an effort to detect when these leaks occur so the owner/operator can respond in a timely manner. This book focuses on pipelines used by the petroleum industry, yet many of the various aspects of this book are applicable to other pipeline infrastructures. This chapter provides a historical look at the development of pipelines and leak detection systems. It identifies how leak detection systems play an important role in spill consequence mitigation and, subsequently, corporate risks.

Keywords

Leak detection; leaks; ruptures; spills; internal leak detection systems; external leak detection systems

1.1 Introduction

This book is an introduction to the problem of quickly detecting leaks, ruptures, and spills from commodities such as natural gas, liquefied natural gas, liquefied petroleum gas, refined petroleum products, and crude oil pipeline transportation systems. Pipelines as a whole, given the tremendous quantity of transported products, are perhaps the safest mode of commodity transport. However, unplanned commodity loss, due to breaches in pipeline integrity, does occur and is a very undesirable side effect of transporting fluids by pipeline. Many of these negative impacts may be severe in nature, ranging from unexpected system downtime to environmental damage, property damage, loss of company good will, loss of investor confidence, government fines, injury, and loss of life. Significant financial costs have occurred due to pipeline integrity breaches and resulting spills. As an example, the 2010 gas line incident in San Bruno, CA resulted in a $1.4 billion fine, loss of life for 8 people, and total destruction of 38 homes.

Pipelines are virtually everywhere. Although most are buried, there are also many miles of pipeline that are constructed above the ground and under water (in rivers, lakes, seas, and oceans). We discuss how pipelines develop leaks, ruptures, and resulting spills. Commodity releases are often detected by people, but they are also detected by pipeline leak detection technology. Leak detection technology, the primary focus of this book, has been designed, implemented, operated, and maintained in an effort to detect when these events occur so the operator can respond in a timely manner. This book focuses on pipelines used by the petroleum industry, yet many of the various aspects of this book are applicable to other pipeline infrastructures.

Fortunately, the unintended escapement of commodity from pipelines due to a pipeline system integrity breach is a relatively rare problem. Pipelines have a long history of providing safe and economical commodity transportation. As shown here, the total existing worldwide length of cross-country pipelines is truly phenomenal. On a worldwide basis, existing pipelines for all commodities run approximately 2 million miles (3.2 million km). The worldwide oil demand in 2013 was approximately 90 million barrels (1.4309×10⁷ m³) of combined crude oil and refined products, and approximately 3500 billion m³ of gas are consumed throughout the world daily. All of this must be moved through a series of pipelines 24 hours per day, 7 days per week, safely and efficiently.

In summary, most of this transportation activity occurs safely, efficiently, quietly, and with little fanfare. But accident...