A PIPELINE LDS TRIAL: COMPARING COMPENSATED VOLUME BALANCE AGAINST SPRT STATISTICAL BASED LDS IN A BRAZILIAN PIPELINE

摘要

This paper describes field trials for two different technologies (built in two commercial products) for leak detectioa location and quantification systems (LDS). Modified Compensated Volumetric Balance was tested against SPRT Statistical Analysis, and the obtained results were analyzed/commented. The tests were carried out in a 43 km long 20 in. pipeline (PREPSP), carrying different batches of crude oils, located in the state of Bahia, Brazil. Actual leaks under shut in, steady state, pump transient startup and shutdown operational conditions were introduced, and the performance of both technologies analysed. For each of those conditions and technologies, a sensitivity curve was plotted, leak location and its quantification was tabled, compared and commented. Finally, reliability data for both technologies (essentially, number of false alarms and non-expected misbehavior) were gathered for a two weeks testing period.