Citation

Turner WJ, Mudford NR. Math. Comput. Model. 1988; 10(8): 609-627.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1988, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/0895-7177(88)90131-8

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

A method is described of detecting leaks in gas pipelines by use of flow, pressure and temperature measurements that are usually made in long-distance natural gas pipelines for other reasons. Once a leak has been detected, the time at which leaking began, the location and the size of the leak is immediately available. The method is based on an accurate simulation of the transient hydraulic behaviour of the pipeline and makes use of all the measurement data available. The method has been tested with simulated data from the Dampier to Perth natural gas pipeline and it is shown that leaks as small as 2% of design flow can be detected in 2.5 h, even in the presence of severe transients and 20 kPa random error in all pressure measurements.

Keywords: Pipeline transportation