Leak Detection

Methane emissions from pipelines and other critical assets pose increasing regulatory, operational, and environmental challenges—particularly given the growing need for rapid, credible leak detection and quantification to meet global standards such as OGMP 2.0 and EU Fit-for-55. This paper introduces AIRMO’s integrated satellite and airborne sensor...

The advancement of pipeline leak detection has been driven by safety, environmental, regulatory, and technological factors across oil, gas, chemical, and broader pipeline industries. This article reviews the historical progression and recent advancement of on-line real-time pipeline leak detection methods from simple pressure drop analysis, to Real...

Pipelines are crucial to daily life, requiring ongoing monitoring and protection. Vibroacoustic Technology (VT) offers reliable pipeline monitoring by detecting various phenomena through vibroacoustic waves. However, even the best field solutions and software lose effectiveness without a user-friendly interface. Timely detection and localization of...

Pipeline operators rely on ILI and NDE to ensure system integrity, but these methods face challenges when detecting and sizing off-axis cracking. What if NDE suggests a systematic bias in ILI results? Can this data still support Integrity Management Programs (IMP)? In a Phase 1 case study, NDT Global and Phillips 66 developed a systematic method to...

Pipelines known as culverts cross water bodies and other infrastructures such as roads. They pose a particular challenge for risk management. Especially when verifying the position and depth of cover (DoC) of pipelines crossing water bodies, conventional inspection methods reach their limits. The innovative inspection technology developed by EMPIT...

Leak detection systems are a crucial part in pipeline safety. Unfortunately, general knowledge about these systems is still limited. Due to advantages and limitations of single leak detection technologies the selection process can be difficult – especially when regulation and different operating scenarios have to be considered. Single methods might...

This paper presents a pipeline monitoring system designed to detect, locate, and classify leakages and Third-Party Interference (TPI) incidents along a pipeline right-of-way using Vibroacoustic Technology. The system is ideal for retrofitting existing pipelines and focuses on real-time asset monitoring to detect activities such as excavation or...

As pipeline industry challenges continue to grow, it’s never been more important to make maximum use of the data available for leak detection. Crucial to this is the deployment of hardware that allows pipeline operators to access more data, resulting in a more effective leak detection system. In this article, Sales and Senior Research Engineer...

Pipeline inspection for cracks and corrosion through intelligent inline tools relies on ultrasonic probes, demanding a 100% first-run success rate to minimize costs. These probes face harsh environmental conditions within pipelines, necessitating utmost stability for optimal functionality. Material selection and rigorous testing during development...

Distributed Fiber Optic Sensing is a highly sensitive technology for leak detection that can provide rapid detection and precise locating of small leaks. The evidence from field trials and real-world leaks is becoming increasingly available and more and more pipelines are implementing the technology for leak detection. Under controlled testing, it...

Defect severity classification holds significant importance within industries that prioritize quality control. This study proposes a novel approach that applies machine learning with Stress Concentration Tomography (SCT) to effectively categorize defects’ severity. Through the utilization of machine learning algorithms, the objective is to enhance...

For years, pipeline operators have relied on human observers flying at low altitude to perform visual inspection of their ROW, without any automatic documentation or detection system. This paper presents the first real-life results of a test campaign performed by Flyscan Systems, integrating detection algorithms developed by Enbridge, over ROWs of...

In the context of repurposing of natural gas transmission pipelines to Hydrogen service the sensitivity of inspection systems with a focus on POX is frequently discussed. Often an increase of crack growth rate da/dN and a reduction in pipe steel toughness require a reduction of minimum remaining anomaly dimensions, in order to satisfy economically...

This work is centered on the integration of different Leak Detection Technologies into a single platform for a better management of Pipeline Integrity Monitoring issues. Leak detection methods covered in this paper are based on Advanced-Negative Pressure Wave, Mass-Balance, Acoustic-Noise, and other predictive techniques based on data processing...

Corrosion Under Insulation (CUI) of insulated pipelines and leakage or intrusion detection on underground utility pipelines are two applications where Distributed Fiber Optic Sensing (DFOS) provides a promising alternative to existing monitoring techniques. In this paper, we present case studies for both domains. When Distributed Acoustic Sensing...