Pipeline Leak Detection System Requirements and Performance Criteria
Ensuring that pipelines remain secure and safe for operation is a key concern for any operator. To achieve this, Pipelines Leak Detection Systems (PLDS) are used to detect and mitigate any potential leaks that may occur. This article will discuss the general requirements and performance criteria that must be met when selecting a Pipeline Leak Detection System.
General Requirements
When selecting a Pipeline Leak Detection System, the following general requirements must be taken into consideration:
• Technology Selection: Technology selection should be considered on a case-by-case basis and must be approved by the Pipeline and Control System Department and Pipelines. The selected technology should take into consideration the communication infrastructure, monitoring system, and field instrumentation. Additionally, the pipeline operating parameters such as pressure, temperature, density, and flow should also be considered.
• Environmental Impact: Environmental impact should be taken into account when selecting PLDS for cross-country pipelines. The environmental impact analysis should include air, land, water, energy, and noise levels.
• Instrumentation and Communication: The operating requirements of each leak detection system must be taken into consideration, including instrumentation accuracy, repeatability, and measurement precision, communication reliability, and sampling frequency.
Performance Criteria
When selecting a Pipeline Leak Detection System, the following performance criteria must be taken into consideration:
For Liquid Pipelines
• Sensitivity: This is a composite measure of the size of the leak that the system is capable of detecting and the time required for the system to generate an alarm in the event of a leak. The requirements are divided into three sensitivity levels (High, Medium, and Low), which are further divided into three operating pressure levels.
• Reliability: This is a measure of the Pipeline Leak Detection System’s ability to continue detecting and locating leaks without generating false alarms, while operating within the envelop established by the Pipeline Leak Detection System design. It is measured as false alarms per year.
• Accuracy: This is the validity of the estimated leak flow rate, total volume lost, and leak location within an acceptable degree of tolerance.
• Robustness: This is a measure of the Pipeline Leak Detection System’s ability to continue to function and provide useful information, even under changing conditions of pipeline operation, or in conditions where data is temporary lost or suspected.
For Gas Pipelines
• Reliability: This is a measure of the Pipeline Leak Detection System’s ability to continue detecting and locating leaks without generating false alarms, while operating within the envelop established by the Pipeline Leak Detection System design. It is measured as false alarms per year.
• Accuracy: This is the validity of the estimated leak flow rate and leak location within an acceptable degree of tolerance.
• Robustness: This is a measure of the System’s ability to continue to function and provide useful information, even under changing conditions of pipeline operation, or in conditions where data is temporary lost or suspected.
Conclusion
Selecting the right Pipeline Leak Detection System is essential for ensuring the safety and security of pipelines. When selecting a Pipeline Leak Detection System, the general requirements and performance criteria outlined in this article must be taken into account. By doing so, a Pipeline Leak Detection System can be selected that is well-suited to