US 2002/0116986 A1Published application

Method and apparatus for locating leaks in pipelines

OwnerJuan Rogelio Pompa, Jerry Mack Ballinventors

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Abstract

A method and apparatus for locating leaks at an undetermined location in a section of pipeline of known length. Standard pressure vessels of relatively small volume are connected to respective ends of the pipeline section through valves. The pipeline is closed at each end and the valves into the standard pressure vessels are opened. Fluids are placed in the pipeline under a pressure. The valves to both of the standard pressure vessels are simultaneously closed, isolating each of the standard pressure vessels from the pipeline section so as to maintain the pressure vessels at substantially the same level as at the time of closing. The differential pressure between each end of the pipeline and its respective standard pressure vessel is then continuously monitored and recorded in real time measurements. The location of a leak is determined by solving an equation, based on the equilibrium equation and real time measured differential pressure values at each end of the pipeline.

Claims15

Dependent claims

A method of locating leaks at an undetermined location in a section of pipeline of known length comprising the steps of:

providing at each end of said section of pipeline a standard pressure vessel of relatively small volume;
connecting each of said standard pressure vessels to a respective end of said pipeline section through a respective valve;
closing each end of said section of pipeline and opening said valves into said standard pressure vessels;
assuring that fluids in said section of pipeline and in said standard pressure vessels are under a pressure of at least a predetermined level;
simultaneously closing each of said standard pressure vessel valves isolating each of said standard pressure vessels from said section of pipeline;
continuously monitoring and recording, in real time measurements, the differential pressure between each end of said pipeline and its respective standard pressure vessel;
and
determining the location of said leak by solving the following equation:
DP(−A,t1)/DP(B,t1)=Cosh(A)/Cosh(L-A)
where DP(−A,t,)=differential pressure between one end of said pipeline section and its respective standard pressure vessel at time t1;
DP(B,t1)=differential pressure between the opposite end of said pipeline section and its respective standard pressure vessel at time t1;
L=the known length of said pipeline section;
and
A=the distance between said one end of said pipeline section and the location of said leak.

11 more elements

Apparatus for locating leaks at an undetermined location in a section of pipeline of known length, the ends of which may be closed, said apparatus comprising:

a first standard pressure vessel of relatively small volume at one end of said pipeline section,
a second standard pressure vessel substantially identical to said first standard pressure vessel at the opposite end of said pipeline section;
each of said first and second pressure vessels being in fluid communication with said one and said opposite ends of said pipeline section, respectively, through a first conduit and valve and a second conduit and valve, respectively;
each of said first and second valves being simultaneously closeable to isolate each of said first and second standard vessels from their respective ends of said pipeline section;
first differential pressure measuring means connected to said one end of said pipeline section and said first standard pressure vessel for measuring the differential pressure therebetween;
and
second differential pressure means connected to said opposite end of said pipeline section and said second standard pressure vessel for measuring the differential pressure therebetween.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.