SPL100 System Overview

Pipelines are recognized as the safest and most cost-efficient method to transport hazardous materials, such as oil and gas. However, corrosion, natural disasters, and third-party damage make leaks and ruptures in pipelines almost inevitable. Rapid detection and location of a leak is extremely important to contain monetary and environmental costs.

The SPL100 system uses well-established principles combined with state-of-the-art technology to deliver a system that rapidly detects and records changes in pipeline pressures to identify and locate leaks. The system is composed of two or more customer installable monitor stations which record information at a rate of hundreds of samples per second. Data is transmitted on real time to a centralized cloud based application using a cellular network, so no additional customer infrastructure is required.  The cloud application stores and constantly analyzes the data monitoring for abnormalities. 
 

Pipeline Leak Detection

A pipeline leak produces a pressure drop and associated with the drop is a wave that propagates both upstream and downstream from the leak. This wave is referred to as a Negative Pressure Wave (NPW). The figure below shows a typical NPW signal arriving at the upstream and downstream sensors. The time the NPW arrives at each sensor is used to calculate the location of the leak. Accurate times are critical to accurately determine a leak’s location.

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The NPW travels close to the speed-of-sound, thousands of feet per second. A small error in estimating the arrival time of the NPW will lead to a large error in location. The SPL Pipeline Leak Detection System is capable of locating a leak quickly and accurately between the sensors.

The system is compatible with SCADA systems. The high scan rates provide a real time picture of the pipeline. Alarm conditions such as leaks, high pressure, valve closings, and pig launchings are sent immediately to the control room.

Hydrostatic Leak DETECTION Testing

The hydrostatic test is a standard method to test a pipeline’s integrity. A hydrostatic test is required before a new pipeline is placed in operation; when the maximum operating pressure (MOP) is established; the product transported is changed (oil to gas etc.). These are just two of events that require a hydrostatic leak test. When a hydro-test fails and the leak is small, it can be very difficult to locate the source of the leak. The SPL100 Hydrostatic Leak Detection Testing System provides an innovative approach to locate a leak when a test fails. For example, when a pipeline is pressured to the target pressure, the speed of the pressure wave as it travel from the up to the downstream sensor is calculated.

Next, the up and downstream pressure sensors are sampled several hundred times per second. If a leak occurs, or is already present, a high sampling rate is extremely important to accurately locate the leak. An accurate location can eliminate the need and expense of  “walking” the pipeline searching for a small leak.

SPL100 Specifications

  • Simple installation and removal

  • Customer installable (no mod/demob charges)

  • Up to 200 samples per second

  • Small footprint

  • Uses Verizon or AT&T Cellular Network in the US

  • Requires 12VDC to 24VDC input

  • Buy and Rent options available

  • At least two stations are needed with a maximum separation of 20 miles

  • Access to all data collected on customer website

  • SCADA interface