Temperature based leak detection for blowout preventers

A leak detection system, comprising:

• one or more components actuated at least in part by hydraulics;
• an inlet line fluidly coupled to receive a pressurized fluid from a hydraulic source;
• a plurality of delivery lines fluidly coupled to the inlet line and providing hydraulic fluid to the one or more components;
• a temperature control device located on the inlet line, wherein the temperature control device creates a temperature differential in a fluid inside the inlet line at the location of the temperature control device from an ambient temperature;
• a plurality of temperature sensors located on the plurality of delivery lines at different positions, the plurality of temperature sensors configured to measure the temperature of the plurality delivery line, respectively;
• and
• a control system that:
• receives temperature data from the plurality of temperature sensors;
• determines that the temperature detected by one or more of the plurality of temperature sensors differs from the ambient temperature by at least a threshold amount;
• determines that a leak is present in a specific delivery line;
• and
• generates an indication of the leak and the specific delivery line.

A method of detecting a leak in a hydraulic system of a BOP, comprising:

• determining an ambient temperature of a BOP in static state, the BOP comprising an inlet line fluidly coupling a plurality of hydraulic delivery lines to a hydraulic source;
• heating or cooling the fluid at a portion of the inlet line;
• monitoring respective temperatures of the plurality of hydraulic delivery lines;
• detecting that a temperature of a specific hydraulic delivery line of the plurality of hydraulic delivery lines is different from the ambient temperature by at least a threshold amount;
• determining that a leak is present in the specific hydraulic delivery line;
• and
• generating an indication of the leak and the specific hydraulic delivery line.