Leak

Leak Detection
Performance
Pipeline Safety Trust Conference
November 17 & 18, 2011
New Orleans, Louisiana
Why Leak
Detection?
Why Leak Detection?
Minimize the volume of lost fluid
Reduce risk of fire, explosion or other safety hazards
Protect the company
Minimize cleanup costs with an early response to a leak

warning
Protect reputation
(Contd)
Demonstrable acceptance of responsibility by executing

a proactive leak detection program
Always increasing regulatory interest in pipeline

integrity programs; including leak detection
November 17 & 18, 2011
Pipeline Safety Trust

2011 Pipeline Safety Conference
History
Manual pressure/flow readings and evaluation

Voice communication between the field and any
center of responsibility that may exist, or with

other stations along the line
Familiarity with the pipeline behavior by
controllers and technicians was critical
Right-of-way observation including walk-overs and
fly-overs were among few leak detection options
November 17 & 18, 2011

Automated Measurements
Proprietary logging systems and SCADA

Transmitter and meter technology
Automation tools and products that acquire
accurate information about hydraulic behavior
Tools to assist in evaluating the relationships
among measurements
November 17 & 18, 2011

Leak Detection
Performance
From the former API 1155 (Evaluation Methodology for

Software Based Leak Detection Systems):
The system correctly indicates that there is no leak
The system correctly indicates that there is a leak
The system incorrectly indicates that there is a leak

(false alarm)
The system incorrectly indicates that there is no leak

(failure to detect)
Definitions absorbed into API RP-1130 (Computational

Pipeline Monitoring for Liquid Pipelines)
November 17 & 18, 2011
Pipeline Safety Trust 2011 Pipeline

Safety Conference
Performance Metrics
Sensitivity Combination of the size of a

detectable leak and the time required to detect it
Reliability A measure of the systems ability to

accurately assess whether a leak exists or not
Accuracy The ability of a system to estimate leak

parameters such as leak flow rate, total volume
lost, and leak location
Robustness The ability of a system to continue to

function during unusual hydraulic conditions or
when data is compromised
November 17 & 18, 2011

Meter-Based Leak
Detection
Most widely used method on long haul pipelines

Requires meters at all entry and exit points
Achievable sensitivity limited by meter accuracy
Some methods can be implemented in SCADA; or are
options with SCADA products
Some products are stand-alone and driven by SCADA data
Alarm thresholds must tolerate and expect the imbalance
in meter readings as the line packs and unpacks
Leak evaluation algorithms that correlate actual changes
in linepack with meter imbalance provide the best
performance
November 17 & 18, 2011

API 1149 Performance

Predictions
Predicts the theoretical best performance possible

with configured uncertainties
No margin for false alarm prevention
Temperature uncertainty and related changes in

density during transit is largest influence on
performance
Not uncertainty in measurement, but uncertainty in

temperature profile along the line
One type of leak detection system can more accurately

estimate the temperature profile than other systems
November 17 & 18, 2011

Definitions
Dry Volume Volume of the pipeline at atmospheric

pressure and a reference temperature
Linepack The incremental quantity of fluid in the line

in addition to the dry volume influenced by pressure
and fluid temperature
Linepack is heavily influenced by temperatures effect on

fluid density as is pressure, but often to a lesser degree
Profile Value of a parameter over the length of the

pipeline segment
November 17 & 18, 2011
10

Definitions (cont)
Uncertainty Potential error in measurements that
must be expected and accounted for; also the

degree to which something is unknown and must
be estimated or assumed based on somewhat
related measurements.
Real-Time Transient Model (RTTM) Accurately
tracks fluid temperature/density profiles with

consideration of pressure in order to reduce
uncertainty in the linepack
November 17 & 18, 2011
11

Meter Quality vs.

Performance
November 17 & 18, 2011
12

Meter-Based Leak Basics
Flow/Pressure/Temperature measurements only at

segment end-points
Metered flow accuracy important for high sensitivity
Fluid density (molecules/mass per unit volume)

varies significantly with temperature
Warm fluid is less dense; Cold fluid is more dense
Temperature/density profile uncertainty is the most

limiting factor in leak detection for some pipelines
November 17 & 18, 2011
13

Volumetric Flow
Measurement
Benefits of volumetric (not corrected for temperature

and pressure) flow measurement
Barrel-to-barrel assessment tolerates differences in

density at injection and delivery points
Tolerates switching injection sources of different

temperatures
Useful on short lines with small changes in

temperature/density during transmission
Not useful where temperature/density profiles are

significant due to heat loss
November 17 & 18, 2011
14

Net barrel Flow

Measurement
Benefits of net (corrected for temperature and
pressure) flow measurement
Useful for custody transfer
Under steady-state conditions, fluid injected at lower

density will balance with delivered fluid at higher
density
Injections at slightly higher volumetric flow balances

with deliveries at lower volumetric flow
Assumes a stable temperature/density profile
November 17 & 18, 2011
15

Net Flow Measurement

Issues
Transient conditions thwart many algorithms

involving net flow measurements
Line packing and unpacking still result in an apparent

net flow imbalance as with basic volume balance
methods
Net barrel flow measurements aggravate simple

balance algorithms where a difference in density
exists at injection and delivery points except under
steady-state stable conditions
November 17 & 18, 2011
16

Natural Flow Imbalance
Difference in injected fluid density and delivered
fluid density
Gradual change in fluid density during transit
Temperature/density profiles are poorly
understood by most simple algorithms
Profile changes shape with changes in flow rate
Water crossings and occasionally wet soil increase

thermal conductivity
November 17 & 18, 2011
17

Meter-Based Leak Detection

Limitations
Accounting for changes or disturbances in linepack
Operational changes causes the line to pack or

unpack as a normal occurrence
Short-term hydraulic disturbances (transients),

including changes in injection temperatures, and their
effect on linepack must be tolerated or understood in
short-term evaluation algorithms used in rapid
assessments
Over extended periods any effects of transients are

diluted; thus allowing good sensitivity by most meterbased solutions over long observation intervals
November 17 & 18, 2011
18

Key Concepts
Pressures and temperatures under steady-state
conditions provide current linepack characteristics

Divergence of meter readings (greater imbalance) should
be reflected in linepack changes as seen in pressures
Transients disturb this information and can lead to
significant short-term linepack uncertainty
Over long time intervals any observed variations in
linepack become insignificant compared to the quantity
of fluid passing through the pipeline system
Long-term sensitivity settings do not require as much
tolerance of linepack uncertainty as do short term leak
detection thresholds
November 17 & 18, 2011
19

Linepack Estimation
Fluid density assumed to be an average of injection

and delivery density
Weighted average
Custom algorithms for curve fitting
RTTM thermal models track fluid density along the

line
Change in flow rate alters the temperature/density

profile as a new quiescent state develops
November 17 & 18, 2011
20

Profiles
Temperature
Occurs when injection and delivery temperatures differ
Subject to heat transfer characteristics of environment
Varies with flow rate / transit time
Pressure
Varies as batched fluids of different characteristics travel
Varies as batches of different densities travel over mountains
Profiles are accurately tracked by Real-Time Transient

Models
November 17 & 18, 2011
21
Pipeline Safety Trust 2011 Pipeline

Safety Conference
Real-Time Transient Model
Most sophisticated volume/mass balance tool
Includes a thermal model to increase the accuracy of

linepack evaluation, thus allowing a shorter detection time
for a detectible leak
Tracks heat transfer along the line and develops accurate

temperature/density profiles as step changes in flow rates
or injection temperatures occur
Allows thermal model tuning to achieve the best

performance by modeling the hydraulic behavior accurately
Automatic tuning capabilities
Instrument sanity checking
November 17 & 18, 2011
22

RTTM Myths
Software is expensive
Not significantly more expensive
Software requires special skills
Training and full technical support is offered by vendors
Knowledge of the pipeline physical details is needed
Software requires ongoing maintenance
Not needed, once performance is satisfactory, but

further tuning is often performed to continually improve
performance
Required if the pipeline network is changed
November 17 & 18, 2011
23

Static Pressure Testing
Extremely high sensitivity

Zero (0) flow results in zero (0) uncertainty in flow
measurement
Works well in a relatively incompressible liquid
environment
Requires pressure control equipment
November 17 & 18, 2011
24

Static Pressure Testing

(contd)
Shut in under pressure at near operating pressure
Monitor pressure decay for a period of time
Drop pressure by half
Monitor pressure decay for a period of time
A consistent pressure decay rate indicates

decreasing density due to heat transfer
A different pressure decay rate indicates a leak

whose rate is pressure dependent
November 17 & 18, 2011
25

Static Pressure Test Trends
November 17 & 18, 2011
26

Conclusion
Simple linepack assessment algorithms have a place

where linepack is stable and linepack variations and
uncertainty do not adversely affect leak assessment
RTTM technology significantly reduces linepack

uncertainty in transient environments and enables leak
detection approaching the limits imposed by meter
accuracy
Static pressure testing is a useful integrity verification tool
Matching the proper tool to the pipelines operation is

critical
November 17 & 18, 2011
27

Training & Response
A critical component of any pipeline integrity

management program
Response protocol should be included in training and

be enforced
Controller can shut down the line on any suspicion of a

leak
Details regarding actions, reporting, etc.
No internal penalty for reasonable judgment
A culture focused on pipeline integrity management is

critical
November 17 & 18, 2011
28

References
API 1130 Computational Pipeline Monitoring for Liquid

Pipelines
API 1149 Pipeline Variable Uncertainties and Their Effects on

Leak Detectability
API 1161 Guidance Document for the Qualification of Pipeline

Personnel
49 CFR Part 192 - TRANSPORTATION OF NATURAL AND OTHER

GAS BY PIPELINE: MINIMUM FEDERAL SAFETY STANDARDS
49 CFR Part 195 - TRANSPORTATION OF HAZARDOUS LIQUIDS

BY PIPELINE
November 17 & 18, 2011
29

Contact UTSI
UTSI - U.S. Headquarters
UTSI - Europe
1560 West Bay Area Boulevard

Suite 300
Friendswood, Texas USA 77546
Raimundo Fernandez Villaverde 43,

6L
28003 Madrid, Spain
Telephone:
+1 281 480
8786
Fax:
+1 281 480 8008
Email:
info@utsi.com
WWW:
http://www.utsi.com
Telephone:
+34 (91) 534 07
49
Fax:
+34 (91) 535 42
57
Email:
info@utsi.com
WWW:
http://www.utsi.com
Daniel W. Nagala (
dnagala@utsi.com)
President & CEO
November 17 & 18, 2011
Catalina Frey (cfrey@utsi.com)

Senior Consultant
30

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Leak Detection

Why Leak Detection?

Minimize the volume of lost fluid

Reduce risk of fire, explosion or other safety hazards

Protect the company

Minimize cleanup costs with an early response to a leak

Demonstrable acceptance of responsibility by executing

Always increasing regulatory interest in pipeline

November 17 & 18, 2011

Pipeline Safety Trust

Manual pressure/flow readings and evaluation

center of responsibility that may exist, or with

Familiarity with the pipeline behavior by

controllers and technicians was critical

Right-of-way observation including walk-overs and

fly-overs were among few leak detection options

November 17 & 18, 2011

Pipeline Safety Trust

Proprietary logging systems and SCADA

accurate information about hydraulic behavior

Tools to assist in evaluating the relationships

November 17 & 18, 2011

Pipeline Safety Trust

From the former API 1155 (Evaluation Methodology for

The system correctly indicates that there is no leak

The system correctly indicates that there is a leak

The system incorrectly indicates that there is a leak

The system incorrectly indicates that there is no leak

Definitions absorbed into API RP-1130 (Computational

November 17 & 18, 2011

Pipeline Safety Trust 2011 Pipeline

Sensitivity Combination of the size of a

Reliability A measure of the systems ability to

Accuracy The ability of a system to estimate leak

Robustness The ability of a system to continue to

November 17 & 18, 2011

Pipeline Safety Trust

Most widely used method on long haul pipelines

November 17 & 18, 2011

Pipeline Safety Trust

API 1149 Performance

Predicts the theoretical best performance possible

No margin for false alarm prevention

Temperature uncertainty and related changes in

Not uncertainty in measurement, but uncertainty in

One type of leak detection system can more accurately

November 17 & 18, 2011

Pipeline Safety Trust

Dry Volume Volume of the pipeline at atmospheric

Linepack The incremental quantity of fluid in the line

Linepack is heavily influenced by temperatures effect on

Profile Value of a parameter over the length of the

November 17 & 18, 2011

Pipeline Safety Trust

must be expected and accounted for; also the

tracks fluid temperature/density profiles with

Pipeline Safety Trust

Meter Quality vs.

November 17 & 18, 2011

Pipeline Safety Trust

Meter-Based Leak Basics

Flow/Pressure/Temperature measurements only at

Metered flow accuracy important for high sensitivity