A New Focus With Leak Detection for US Pipelines

2012 ◽  
Author(s):  
James Merritt ◽  
Patricia Jasion ◽  
Max Kieba
Keyword(s):  
Natural Gas ◽  
Leak Detection ◽  
The United States ◽  
Transportation Safety ◽  
Research Information ◽  
Environment Impact ◽  
Natural Gas Pipelines ◽  
Detection Systems ◽  
Natural Gas Pipeline ◽  
The U.S

The United States (U.S.) Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) is exploring methods for increasing usage and improving leak detection systems in both hazardous liquid and natural gas pipelines. This is a critical focus for PHMSA in the wake of several recent pipeline incidents where more effective and redundant leak detection systems may have lessened the experienced consequences. The U.S. Congress and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have recommended deploying more leak detection systems into the U.S. pipeline infrastructure to address increasing public safety and environment impact concerns. PHMSA has taken a number of actions to work toward this goal including increased operator guidance, fostering technology research, information gathering, and reports on state of the art technologies. This paper discusses PHMSA’s actions regarding leak detection systems and the progress in advancing the dialogue amongst hazardous liquids and natural gas pipeline operators, other regulators, and the public, so that considerations in deploying systems on vintage and new construction pipelines can be identified.

Risk Assessment of Incidents Response for Downstate New York Natural Gas Distribution Infrastructure

2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 31-65
Author(s):  
Brian J. Galli ◽  
Aamir Khizar
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Risk Assessment ◽  
New York ◽  
Natural Gas ◽  
The United States ◽  
Gas Distribution ◽  
Gas Industry ◽  
Natural Gas Pipelines ◽  
Natural Gas Pipeline ◽  
Natural Gas Industry

In the United States today, there are thousands of miles of an extended network of natural gas pipelines across the nation. Current pipeline explosions and leaks in several regions have challenged the natural gas industry to re-evaluate efforts and to pursue proactive strategies. Safety and the environmental threat has become a primary concern in the United States and around the world, but mostly in cases where natural gases, oil, and other hazardous wastes are intricate. Thus, a significant point in the natural gas pipeline industry that signifies both the economic and social issue is the unplanned pipeline risk. In this article, a quantitative data analysis was performed for Downstate New York companies, Con Edison and National Grid. There, the data from various natural gas pipelines was observed for the trend regarding failing material, failure cause, aging characteristics, and perform a risk assessment to come up with training and risk checklist that could be crucial for risk handling strategies. The statistical analyses of the natural gas pipeline-related incident data for distribution pipelines between 2012 and 2016, which were composed from Pipeline and Hazardous Material Safety Administration (PHMSA) of the United States Department of Transportation (DOT), are compiled. The total miles in the gas distribution pipelines in downstate New York is approximately 48,539 as of 2016. The equipment failure, other incident cause, other outside force, and excavation damages are the leading causes of the pipe-related incidents, which are responsible for over 20% of the total incidents between 2012 and 2016. As a result, a quantitative research methodology has been developed as the suitable approach to achieve risk assessment. Mainly, this approach aims towards risk management in natural gas industry projects using the maximum likelihood method on 70 rupture incidents between 2012 and 2016, which were collected from the PHMSA pipeline incident database. The hypothetical quantitative risk assessment of the gas distribution pipelines are illustrated by combining the statistics of the pipeline rupture incidents, as well as risk assessment performed in the present study.

Pipeline Diagnostics With Ultrasonic Meters

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicole Gailey ◽  
Noman Rasool
Keyword(s):  
Real Time ◽  
Measurement Errors ◽  
Flow Measurement ◽  
Detection System ◽  
Leak Detection ◽  
The United States ◽  
Time Data ◽  
Critical System ◽  
Detection Systems ◽  
Transient Models

Canada and the United States have vast energy resources, supported by thousands of kilometers (miles) of pipeline infrastructure built and maintained each year. Whether the pipeline runs through remote territory or passing through local city centers, keeping commodities flowing safely is a critical part of day-to-day operation for any pipeline. Real-time leak detection systems have become a critical system that companies require in order to provide safe operations, protection of the environment and compliance with regulations. The function of a leak detection system is the ability to identify and confirm a leak event in a timely and precise manner. Flow measurement devices are a critical input into many leak detection systems and in order to ensure flow measurement accuracy, custody transfer grade liquid ultrasonic meters (as defined in API MPMS chapter 5.8) can be utilized to provide superior accuracy, performance and diagnostics. This paper presents a sample of real-time data collected from a field install base of over 245 custody transfer grade liquid ultrasonic meters currently being utilized in pipeline leak detection applications. The data helps to identify upstream instrumentation anomalies and illustrate the abilities of the utilization of diagnostics within the liquid ultrasonic meters to further improve current leak detection real time transient models (RTTM) and pipeline operational procedures. The paper discusses considerations addressed while evaluating data and understanding the importance of accuracy within the metering equipment utilized. It also elaborates on significant benefits associated with the utilization of the ultrasonic meter’s capabilities and the importance of diagnosing other pipeline issues and uncertainties outside of measurement errors.

scholarly journals Numerical Analysis of the Characteristics of Gas Explosion Process in Natural Gas Compartment of Utility Tunnel Using FLACS

2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 153 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zexu Li ◽  
Jiansong Wu ◽  
Mingyu Liu ◽  
Yuntao Li ◽  
Qiuju Ma
Keyword(s):  
Natural Gas ◽  
Gas Explosion ◽  
Rapid Urbanization ◽  
Flame Acceleration ◽  
Natural Gas Pipelines ◽  
Natural Gas Pipeline ◽  
Urban Safety ◽  
Fire And Explosion ◽  
Utility Tunnel ◽  
Urbanization In China

With the rapid urbanization in China, directly buried municipal pipelines have been gradually replaced by urban utility tunnels due to a serious shortage of urban underground spaces and weak disaster prevention of traditional municipal pipelines. The urban utility tunnels normally contain electricity pipelines, natural gas pipelines, heat pipelines, sewer pipelines, etc. If a natural gas pipeline leaks, a fire and explosion might occur and lead to serious consequences. In this study, the characteristics of gas explosion in a natural gas compartment of urban utility tunnel are investigated based on FLACS (Flame Acceleration Simulator) simulations. The results revealed that the flame profile undergoes two unstable flame stages. When the ignition position is set at the middle area (100.25, 1.2, 1.4 m) of the 200 m-long natural gas compartment, the maximum overpressure of the gas explosion in the 200 m-long natural gas compartment is 25.17 bar, which is the largest maximum overpressure under all gas explosion simulation setups. It is also found that the length of the natural gas compartment and different ignition positions have slight effects on the maximum overpressure. This study could provide technical support for structural strength design and division of the fireproofing area of the natural gas compartment in the utility tunnel, which is of great significance to improve urban safety during sustainable development.

Enhancing Liquid Hydrocarbon Pipeline Leak Detection Using Instrumented Aerial Surveillance

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adrian Banica ◽  
Doug Waslen ◽  
Boyd T. Tolton
Keyword(s):  
Natural Gas ◽  
New Technology ◽  
Field Tests ◽  
Ground Level ◽  
Leak Detection ◽  
Liquid Hydrocarbon ◽  
Aerial Surveillance ◽  
Natural Gas Pipelines ◽  
Test Methodology ◽  
Detection Technology

Suncor Energy Inc. contacted Synodon as part of an effort to enhance pipeline leak detection. Ideally, Suncor needed a technology that could detect natural gas as well as liquid hydrocarbon releases. Synodon’s new technology is an aircraft mounted gas remote sensing instrument that has been used for detecting leaks from natural gas pipelines for over four (4) years and was expanding their capability to include liquid hydrocarbons. This paper will describe the steps that Suncor and Synodon have taken over the last two years to develop and validate this detection technology. Synodon completed a number of studies including laboratory and field tests that demonstrated the ability of Synodon’s technology to remotely detect ground-level plumes of vapours released from a liquid hydrocarbon pipeline. Synodon conducted full atmospheric analytic modeling followed by laboratory measurements to determine the level of sensitivity of its instrument measurement to both methane and various liquid hydrocarbon vapors including gasoline, condensates and synthetic crude oil. Suncor participated in the development of test methodology and field execution in order to witness and validate the results. Based on this work, Suncor has determined an optimum inspection frequency based on theoretical spill size, SCADA leak detection thresholds and conventional aerial patrol constraints. The results and conclusions of this work will be presented.

Steady State Performance Simulation of Natural Gas Pipeline Driven by Compressor Stations

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. M. Suleiman ◽  
Y. G. Li
Keyword(s):  
Steady State ◽  
Natural Gas ◽  
Flow Rate ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Simulation Approach ◽  
Gas Pipelines ◽  
Performance Simulation ◽  
Natural Gas Pipelines ◽  
Natural Gas Pipeline ◽  
Pumping Stations

Natural gas pipeline plays an important role in transporting natural gas over a long distance. Its performance and operating behavior are affected by many factors, such as ambient conditions, natural gas flow rate, operation and control of compressor pumping stations, etc. Better understanding of the performance and behavior of an integrated pipeline-compressor system used for gas transmission will be beneficial to both design and operation of natural gas pipelines. This paper introduces a novel steady-state thermodynamic performance simulation approach for natural gas pipelines based on fundamental thermodynamics with the inclusion of the coupling between a pipeline and compressor pumping stations. A pipeline resistance model, a compressor performance model characterized by an empirical compressor map and a pipeline control schedule for the operation of an integrated pipeline-compressor system are included in the simulation approach. The novel approach presented in this paper allows the analysis of the thermodynamic coupling between compressors and pipes and the off-design performance analysis of the integrated pipeline-compressor system. The introduced simulation approach has been applied to the performance simulation of a typical model pipeline driven by multiple centrifugal compressor pumping stations. It is assumed in the pipeline control schedule that the total pressure at the inlet of compressor stations is kept constant when pipeline operating condition changes. Such pipeline operating conditions include varying ambient temperature and varying natural gas volumetric flow rate. The performance behavior of the pipeline corresponding to the change of operating conditions has been successfully simulated. The introduced pipeline performance simulation approach is generic and can be applied to different pipeline-compressor systems.

Connecting the dots: NOx emissions along a West Siberian natural gas pipeline.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ronald van der A ◽  
Jos de Laat ◽  
Henk Eskes ◽  
Jieying Ding
Keyword(s):  
Natural Gas ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
The United States ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Satellite Measurements ◽  
Gas Industry ◽  
Gas Drilling ◽  
Natural Gas Pipeline ◽  
Natural Gas Industry ◽  
Order Of Magnitude

<p><span><span>New TROPOMI (Sentinel 5P) high quality satellite measurements of nitrogen dioxide (NO<sub>2</sub>) over snow-covered regions of Siberia reveal previously undocumented but significant nitrogen oxides (NO<sub>x</sub> = NO + NO<sub>2</sub>) emissions associated with the natural gas industry in Western Siberia. Besides gas drilling and natural gas power plants, also gas compressor stations for the transport of natural gas are sources of high amounts of NO<sub>x</sub> emissions, which are emitted in otherwise pristine regions. The emissions from these remote gas compressor stations are at least an order of magnitude larger than those reported for North American gas compressor stations, possibly related to less stringent environmental regulations in Siberia compared to the United States. This discovery was made possible thanks to a newly developed technique for discriminating snow covered surfaces from clouds, which for the first time allows for satellite measurements of tropospheric NO<sub>2</sub> columns over large boreal snow-covered areas. This results in 23% more TROPOMI observations on an annual basis. Furthermore, these observations have a precision four times better than nearly any TROPOMI observation over other areas and surfaces around the world. These new results highlight the potential of TROPOMI on Sentinel 5P as well as future satellite missions for monitoring small-scale emissions</span></span></p>

Leak Detection and Operations Management in Offshore Pipelines

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jun Zhang ◽  
Adrian Kane
Keyword(s):  
Operations Management ◽  
Leak Detection ◽  
Offshore Pipelines ◽  
Natural Gas Pipelines ◽  
Detection Systems ◽  
Volume Balance ◽  
Fluid Properties ◽  
Oil And Natural Gas ◽  
Measured Flow ◽  
Transient Models

This paper will demonstrate that with limited instruments at the terminals and platforms only, it is feasible to monitor the integrity of offshore pipelines effectively. Some examples of applications will be shown, including both crude oil and natural gas pipelines. The statistical volume balance technology based on flow and pressure measurements at the inlets and outlets only provides the detection and location of leaks. The paper describes the performance of these leak detection systems for incidents ranging from small leaks to pipeline rupture. To help operators run pipelines safely and cost effectively, real-time transient models are used to calculate the flow, pressure, temperature, density and other fluid properties along the pipeline. Instead of using measured flow and pressure, the operators rely on these calculated values to take operational decisions. The combination of hydraulic modelling and statistical leak detection provides the operators with the information and confidence in the integrity of their pipelines. In the event of any incident the operators can take actions quickly and correctly to minimize the consequences.

scholarly journals A Small Leak Detection Method Based on VMD Adaptive De-Noising and Ambiguity Correlation Classification Intended for Natural Gas Pipelines

Sensors ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 16 (12) ◽  
pp. 2116 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qiyang Xiao ◽  
Jian Li ◽  
Zhiliang Bai ◽  
Jiedi Sun ◽  
Nan Zhou ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Natural Gas ◽  
Detection Method ◽  
Leak Detection ◽  
Gas Pipelines ◽  
Natural Gas Pipelines ◽  
Small Leak

scholarly journals Options of Natural Gas Pipeline Reassignment for Hydrogen: Cost Assessment for a Germany Case Study

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Simonas Cerniauskas ◽  
Antonio Jose Chavez Junco ◽  
Thomas Grube ◽  
Martin Robinius ◽  
Detlef Stolten
Keyword(s):  
Natural Gas ◽  
Energy System ◽  
Gas Pipeline ◽  
Cost Functions ◽  
Pipeline System ◽  
Natural Gas Pipelines ◽  
Natural Gas Pipeline ◽  
System P ◽  
Availability Constraints ◽  
Hydrogen Supply

The uncertain role of the natural gas infrastructure in the decarbonized energy system and the limitations of hydrogen blending raise the question of whether natural gas pipelines can be economically utilized for the transport of hydrogen. To investigate this question, this study derives cost functions for the selected pipeline reassignment methods. By applying geospatial hydrogen supply chain modeling, the technical and economic potential of natural gas pipeline reassignment during a hydrogen market introduction is assessed.The results of this study show a technically viable potential of more than 80% of the analyzed representative German pipeline network. By comparing the derived pipeline cost functions it could be derived that pipeline reassignment can reduce the hydrogen transmission costs by more than 60%. Finally, a countrywide analysis of pipeline availability constraints for the year 2030 shows a cost reduction of the transmission system by 30% in comparison to a newly built hydrogen pipeline system.

scholarly journals NOAA Scientific Support for a Natural Gas Pipeline Release During Hurricane Harvey Flooding in the Neches River Beaumont, Texas

2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Adam Davis ◽  
Dalina Thrift-Viveros ◽  
Commander Matt S. Baker
Keyword(s):  
Natural Gas ◽  
Disaster Response ◽  
Technical Assistance ◽  
Coast Guard ◽  
Gas Pipeline ◽  
Scientific Support ◽  
Natural Gas Pipeline ◽  
Extreme Flood ◽  
Neches River ◽  
The U.S

ABSTRACT During the height of historic flooding from Hurricane Harvey's rainfall, a rupture occurred in a 16-inch, 80 psia (65 psig) natural gas pipeline crossing the Neches River east of Beaumont, Texas. Over the preceding five days, Hurricane Harvey stalled over the area, generating rainfall totals between 35 and 60 inches. The storm broke the record for rainfall totals in the U.S., with 60.58 inches reported in Nederland, Texas and 60.54 inches near Groves, Texas. The Neches River was in extreme flood conditions, cresting the day after the pipeline rupture at a historic high of 19.59 feet (nearly 10 feet above major flood stage and nearly 7 feet above the former historic record from 1994). At the request of the U.S. Coast Guard Marine Safety Unit (MSU) Port Arthur, NOAA's Emergency Response Division provided scientific support for the incident including on-scene support from the NOAA Scientific Support Coordinator (pre-deployed in Port Arthur, Texas for disaster response) as well as technical assistance from the NOAA Scientific Support Team in Seattle and Baton Rouge. Products and support provided by NOAA included air hazard modeling using ALOHA (Areal Locations of Hazardous Atmospheres) as well as the overall hazards assessment. ALOHA modeling indicated that several significant ignition sources were located within the specific threat zone identified. However, no ignition occurred and no injury or further damage resulted from the release. This incident highlights the advantages and limitations of using ALOHA to model a subsurface natural gas release from a large underwater pipeline provided in the context of an ongoing response to historic flooding and high intensity search and rescue and emergency port operations resulting from a natural disaster.

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