Leak detection system for intermittent use pipelines

Abstract

A system is described for reliably detecting leaks in a distributed manner in intermittent use pipelines by making use of thermal or acoustic events triggered by the leak. The system can work in pressurized or unpressurized pipelines and in high flow or no flow conditions.

1 . A system for detecting pipeline leaks for intermittent use pipelines comprising:
 a pipeline to carry a pipeline product that is be of at least intermittent use;   a trough in which the pipeline is to rest;   at least one optical fiber distributed sensing cable to run through the trough and to be located below the pipeline;   separated baffles located along the trough to support the pipeline and to control a spacing between the pipeline and the at least one optical fiber distributed sensing cable; and   a reactive material to be positioned in a bottom of the trough and to be in contact with the at least one optical fiber distributed sensing cable;   wherein the reactive material is to react with the pipeline product if the reactive material comes in contact with the pipeline product, creating at least one of a thermal and an acoustic event.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the at least one optical fiber distributed sensing cable is part of a distributed temperature sensing (DTS) system that is to detect thermal events along the pipeline. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the at least one optical fiber distributed sensing cable is part of a distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) system that is to detect acoustic events along the pipeline. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the pipeline product is a hydrochloric acid, wherein the reactive material at the bottom of the trough is calcium carbonate that is to react with the hydrochloric acid, releasing thermal energy that to be measured by a DTS system. 
     
     
         5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the trough in which the pipeline rests comprises a V-shaped bottom. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the reactive material is in granular form. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1  wherein a material of the pipeline is a hydrocarbon, wherein the reactive material is a material that is to dissolve in hydrocarbons, releasing acoustic energy that is to be measured by a DAS system. 
     
     
         9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the reactive material is supplied as at least one of a gel and a brick form that is to stay in place in sloped pipeline deployments. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the reactive material in the bottom of the trough is supplied encapsulated within a sensing cable to run through the trough and located below the pipeline. 
     
     
         12 . A system for detecting pipeline leaks for intermittent use pipelines comprising:
 a pipeline carrying a pipeline product that is to be of at least intermittent use;   a trough located in a trench in soil and with retaining walls surrounding the trench, wherein the pipeline is to be positioned in the trough;   at least one optical fiber distributed sensing cable to run through the trough and to be located below the pipeline;   a reactive material in a bottom of the trough and covering the at least one optical fiber distributed sensing cable;   wherein the reactive material is to react with the pipeline product in response to being in contact with the pipeline product, creating at least one of a thermal and an acoustic event; and   a trench lid to be placed on the retaining walls after deployment of the trough, the pipeline, the at least one optical fiber distributed sensing cable, and the reactive material.   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12  wherein the at least one optical fiber distributed sensing cable is part of a distributed temperature sensing (DTS) system and is to detect thermal events along the pipeline. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 12  wherein the at least one optical fiber distributed sensing cable is part of a distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) system and is to detect acoustic events along the pipeline. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 12  wherein the pipeline product is a hydrochloric acid, wherein the reactive material at the bottom of the trough is calcium carbonate that is to react with the hydrochloric acid, releasing thermal energy that is to be measured by a distributed temperature sensing (DTS) system. 
     
     
         16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 12  wherein the trough in which the pipeline rests comprises a V-shaped bottom. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 12  wherein the reactive material is in granular form. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 12  wherein a material of the pipeline is a hydrocarbon, wherein the reactive material is a material that is to dissolve in hydrocarbons, releasing acoustic energy that is to be measured by a distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) system. 
     
     
         20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 12  wherein the reactive material is supplied as at least one of a gel and a brick form that is to stay in place in sloped pipeline deployments. 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 12  wherein the reactive material in the bottom of the trough is supplied encapsulated within a sensing cable to run through the trough and located below the pipeline. 
     
     
         23 . A system for detecting pipeline leaks for intermittent use pipelines comprising:
 a pipeline to carry a pipeline product that is to be of at least intermittent use;   at least one optical fiber distributed sensing cable to be positioned beneath the pipeline; and   a reactive material supplied encapsulated within a sensing cable located below the pipeline;   wherein the reactive material is to react with the pipeline product in response to being in contact with the, creating at least one of a thermal and an acoustic event.   
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 23  wherein the optical fiber distributed sensing cable is part of at least one of a distributed temperature sensing (DTS) system that is to detect thermal events along the pipeline and a distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) system that is to detect acoustic events along the pipeline. 
     
     
         25 . (canceled)