A Novel IoT-Based Method for Real-Time Detection of Spontaneous Leaks in Pipelines, Gathering Systems, and Offshore Risers

This paper presents on a non-invasive, IoT-based method for rapidly determining the presence and location of spontaneous leaks in pressurized lines transporting any type of product (e.g., oil, gas, water, etc.). Specific applications include long-distance transmission lines, gathering networks at well sites, and offshore production risers. The methodology combines proven negative pressure wave (NPW) sensing with advanced signal processing to minimize false positives and accurately identify the presence of small spontaneous leaks within seconds of their occurrence. In the case of long-distance transmission pipelines, the location of the leak can be localized to within 20-50 feet. The solution was commercialized in 2020 and has undergone extensive testing to verify its capabilities. It is currently in use by several operators, both onshore and offshore.

STUDY OF VOLTAGE MODE IN THE LONG-DISTANCE AC TRANSMISSION LINE

The charging currents of EHV transmission lines cause the Ferranti effect, which causes an increase in voltage at intermediate points transmission line. The work aims to study the laws of the voltage distribution along the line route and to develop a method for determining the coordinates of a point with extreme voltage. Methodology. Mathematical modeling of long-distance transmission lines in Wolfram Mathematica allowed to form the laws of the voltage distribution along the line and determine the coordinate of the extreme point on the voltage. Results. It is shown that the application of the traditional model of idealized power transmission causes high modeling accuracy only in the modes of unloaded line and low loads. In the range of medium and high loads, the simulation error reaches unacceptably large values. The paper proposes more accurate models for determining the coordinate of an extreme voltage point: linearized and second- and third-order models. It is shown that the proposed models are characterized by higher accuracy in a wide range of loads. Increasing the degree of the model results in higher accuracy, but is associated with an increase in the cumbersomeness of the mathematical model. It is shown that first and second-order models provide sufficient accuracy for typical designs of 750 kV power transmission lines. It is shown that neglecting the losses on the corona has almost no effect on the accuracy of calculating the coordinates of the extreme point on the voltage, which simplifies the linear calculation model and models of the second and third-order. Originality. Mathematical models of the first, second and third orders have been developed for high-precision determination of the coordinate of a voltage-extreme point along a long-distance transmission line. Practical significance. The offered mathematical models are intended for application in problems of regulation and adjustment of parameters of flexible power transmissions. Ref. 12, figure, tables 4.