Significant leaks from oil and gas pipelines have resulted in the evacuation of populated areas, explosions, legal costs in the amounts of millions of dollars and the emission of precious natural resources into the air, land and water.
[Translation by Dr. Nachmani Moshe]
Significant leaks from oil and gas pipelines cause the evacuation of populated areas, explosions, legal costs in the amounts of millions of dollars and the emission of precious natural resources into the air, land and water. In an article published in the scientific journal Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research, scientists report that they have succeeded in developing a software-based method capable of detecting leaks even when they are still small and localized, a method that can help prevent serious accidents and also save money for consumers and the industry.
The researchers point out that the use of pipeline systems to transfer oil, gas and even water from one point to another is a very effective method, in most cases. However, serious and expensive problems arise when piping collapses and breaks. Existing leak detection methods are limited in scope. Hardware-based approaches that use special instrumentation are expensive and complex, and software-based systems fail to adequately model pressure drops within pipelines. This fact leads to many errors, especially for gas pipelines. The researchers sought to find a solution to this problem.
The researchers were able to develop a method that compares the measurements of the pressures and flow rates of the piping against mathematical models capable of accurately predicting the results of the expected measurements. Their method was able to detect small leaks and reduce errors by 21-3 percent compared to existing software. The researchers estimate that their new method will result in savings of millions of dollars compared to other detection methods.
