LEAK DETECTION METHODS FOR SUBSEA PIPELINES

BY KIRA COLEY B.SC. (HONS) AMIMAREST

SCIENTIFIC APPLICATIONS SPECIALIST, PLANET OCEAN LTD
According to the UKs Health and Safety Executives (HSE) Offshore Division (OSD), almost 400 offshore
hydrocarbon releases had been reported between April 2010 and April 2013, around 45% of which were classified
as major or significant incidences. Regardless of their size, subsea leakages are a foremost concern for the industry.
This issue extends beyond the considerable costs of product loss and repairs, but considers human injuries as well
as significant environmental impacts. Therefore one of the most important attributes for a detection package, is to
achieve early warning of small to medium sized outflows for
monitoring and immediate corrective actions.
Leak detection is a continuously evolving area of Gas & Oil industry
activity, the approaches remain the same amidst unremitting
development of monitoring technologies and detection systems.
There are a wide range of methods available depending on the type
of application and approach, however, deciding on the best course
can be complex and not with guaranteed success. The approach
used by operators can be influenced by the location of the pipeline,
accessibility and the medium to be detected. For instance, a
pipeline buried 2 metres under the seabed or encased within concrete, will increase the
difficultly of locating the source of a leak, and some areas are not accessible by remotely
operated vehicles (ROVs) making use of point sensors problematic.
Although the industry has seen a reduction in reported leaks, there are still gaps to fill concerning the design,
engineering and operation of leak detection systems, not only make them reliable for the discovery of an outflow,
but to quickly pinpoint the exact position of the source. The recent increase of deep sea and arctic development, as
well as the continued activity in locations worldwide, emphasize a need for an industry reference in this technology
field, which can serve as a guideline today and a tool for coordinating development in the future. This article looks
at the chemical and acoustic approaches used by the industry,
and discusses the advantages and limitations to each method.
THE CHEMICAL APPROACH:
METHANE DETECTORS
There are two measurement principles used by manufacturers
when designing these sensors. The first principle refers to semi-
conductor systems, designed so that an electrical signal is
produced from a change of resistance triggered when the
methane is detected within an internal component inside the
sensor chamber. Alternatively, the optical non-dispersive
infrared spectrometry (NDIR) method, measures the
concentration of methane as a degree of absorption of infrared light at a certain wavelength.
The sensitivity of methane sniffers, is dependent on the distance to the leak and the drift of the leaking medium,
even so, the detection of hydrocarbons in the water using this approach can be a sluggish process. The primary
advantage is that most of these instruments are very sensitive to slight concentrations of gases, detecting even the
smallest of leaks. The disadvantages of this technology lies in the response rate which can result in slow detection
times, as well as the limitation to the local area from which the gas is drawn into the probe for analysis. It has also
been reported, that chemical based sensors can become saturated in high concentrations. Therefore, the cost of
monitoring long pipelines when relying solely on gas sampling methods has the potential to be high, and in most
cases is best accompanied by sampling additional parameters.


Image courtesy of Ocean Sonics
Image courtesy of Contros
FLUORESCENCE DETECTORS
Fluorescence forms the basis of one of the most widely used and effective approaches to subsea installation leak
detection. Fluorescent detectors excite molecules within the medium to a higher energy level by using a light
source of a certain wavelength. The molecules then relax to a lower state and light is emitted at a different
wavelength which can be picked up by a detector. The use of this approach requires the presence of either the
mediums natural ability to fluoresce or fluorescent tracers to be added to the medium being detected. For
hydrocarbon leak detection, is it most convenient that crude oil has significant natural fluorescence and the
detectors can potentially differentiate between hydraulic fluid and oil leaks due to signature differences within the
fluorescence spectrum.

The identification of large leak sources have often been located by visual observations from divers or cameras
within the water. However, subsea fluorescence technology can provide a more effective detection system and are
less restricted by depth whilst offering the potential to reduce the quantity of dye required. These detectors can be
point sensors and have been used successfully with ROVs as well as the potential to provide an indication of leak
size from the relative signal intensity. Turbidity within the water column however, can impede recognition of the
desired medium. The development of sensors using this technique is advancing, leading to the emergence of long
range systems, which allow the detection of leaks within confined structures where ROV access is not always
possible.
TEMPERATURE SENSORS AND MONO-ETHYLENE GLYCOL (MEG)
The medium being transported maintains much of its temperature while travelling through subsea pipelines.
Insulation of the pipelines slows the heat transfer and cooling process of gas and oil, preventing pressure loss,
reduced flow rates and clogging of pipelines. Therefore when a leak occurs, subsea facilities can monitor
temperature gradient changes in the environment to locate outflows along the pipeline, where the leaking medium
is above or below ambient seawater temperature. Although temperature sensors are unable to differentiate
between materials, the sensitivity and response time of some high grade sensors make them effective instruments
which are easily used singularly or integrated into leak detections systems. Sensors are available that will resolve to
0.00025 C (0.25 mK) with an accuracy of 0.001 C enabling tiny changes to be detected.

Deeper waters and polar environments, finds decreases in temperatures and the increased requirement of anti-
freeze in gas pipelines. Mono-Ethylene Glycol (MEG) is introduced into the pipelines as an antifreeze and
anticorrosion agent, to allow the gas to flow continuously in cold climates. MEG sensors are slowly being
introduced as a leak detection solution in some parts of the industry, with a number of instruments in current
development or already presented in the field.

THE ACOUSTIC APPROACH:
PASSIVE ACOUSTIC DETECTION
The use of acoustic technology in the leak detection industry, has
been available since the 1980s and is becoming increasingly
significant as a leak detection method due to advances in smart
hydrophone technology. Passive acoustic detection for subsea
facilities use hydrophones to detect leaks based on drops in
pressure and changes in the background noise pattern. As long
as there is a sufficiently strong pressure wave, passive acoustic
sensors are not dependent on the chemical compound of the
leaking medium.
Identifying small leaks can be a limitation to this technology, as the acoustic waves may be shadowed or the
measurement disturbed by background noise produced by vessels in the vicinity, and a sufficient drop in pressure is
required for the method to be effective. Acoustic emissions produced by outflows tend to be at frequencies of 30
kHz and above, therefore sophisticated software should be able to calibrate out lower frequency sounds generated
by host vehicles etc. The advantages of this technique include detection of the exact location of the leaks, minimal
interference with pipeline operations and the instruments tend not to be affected by seawater currents and
Image courtesy of Ocean Sonics
turbidity. Overall this approach is highly successful, due to improvements in the simplicity of data analysis and
modernisation of visual software. Low noise, high resolution instruments connected to real-time visualisation
software, allow operators to construct a library of leak signatures making leak location even more effective. Smart
Hydrophones, also provide for real-time correlation of spectral signatures within the instrument which will in time
lead to fully automated systems.
ALTERNATIVE USES FOR ACOUSTICS
Engineers based in Ireland recently trailed acoustic detection methods on subsea wind farm power cables, in an
attempt to locate ruptures in the casing which can sever the electrical conductors. Patrick ORourke, explains We
were working from the basis that when we injected current into the fault, electrolysis would occur at the fault
location offshore and produce bubbles which the hydrophone could detect. Our concept was correct and we were
able to visually see bubbles emerging from the fault after we found it. Unfortunately in this case, the acoustic
emissions from the bubbles was masked by the volume of background noise caused by the vessel used on the
project, even after the ambient noise was calibrated out. Another issue they found, was the frequency at which the
bubbles could be detected. With adjustments to the technique and the availability of wideband, low noise, high
sensitivity smart hydrophones, it is possible for acoustics to be utilised in other applications in the future.


CONCLUSIONS
The approach used for subsea leak detection depends on the
characteristics of the pipeline and medium to be detected, as well as the
capabilities of the instrumentation. The performance requirement of the
instrument will influence whether a single parameter or integrated system
is recommended. For example, routine inspections of pipelines may
achieve desired results with a single sensor chosen based upon the
medium, location and ambient conditions, but to locate a known rupture
quickly, multi-parameter solutions may prove more efficient.

Complementary technologies should be considered as an overall leak detection package, as multi-parameter
solutions can compensate for the respective weaknesses and allow the indication of a leak event from one system,
to be supported from the other(s). The issue with combining sensors however, is the possible increase in complexity
involved with the subsea operation and data handling, as well as the additional price tag of multiple purchases.
Specifically designed integrated systems are available at a package cost, and should help streamline the overall
experience. Research into the various sensors and products available will also be a vital step, as manufacturers are
continuously developing and improving instruments to eradicate previous
limitations.
PLANET OCEAN SOLUTIONS
Planet Ocean offer a number of monitoring concepts and sensors, designed to
address the site-specific needs and requirements of offshore oil & gas
production, including manifolds, wellheads, templates, risers and pipelines.
These systems include HydroC methane (CH
4
) and polycyclic aromatic
hydrocarbon (PAH) instruments, icListen Hydrophones and Sea-Bird
Temperature sensors.

The CONTROS HydroC system was specifically developed to allow fast, real-time and in-situ detection of gaseous
and dissolved hydrocarbons in the water column. The HydroC sensors have been implemented into a variety of
mobile deep sea platforms (e.g. AUV, ROV) and are successfully operated in leak detection surveys and pipeline
inspections. The newly developed and successfully tested permanent and mobile monitoring systems, is a step
ahead in leakage monitoring in shelf areas.
Image courtesy of Contros
Image courtesy of Sea-Bird
OCEAN SONICS icListen Smart Hydrophone is a compact, all-in-one instrument thats small enough to fit in your
hand, yet smart enough to log calibrated waveforms, spectral or event data in one standard format. It is a reliable
and accurate hydrophone that records & outputs sound data in real units. Its best in class signal performance lets
you acquire hard to detect data accurately and cost effectively.
The superior performance of the Sea-Bird Electronics, SBE 3F temperature sensor results from its optimized
electronic design, combined with an extraordinarily precise calibration procedure and quality testing program. The
SBE 3F has a time response of approximately 0.07 second, an initial accuracy of 0.001 C, and is typically stable to
0.002 C per year. These sensors can be successfully calibrated as separate modules, because they have built-in
acquisition circuits and frequency outputs.

In order to achieve the best and individualized subsea monitoring solutions, Contros offers an integrated leak
detection system, which is versatile and able to incorporate any third party sensors such as CTD, pH, CO2, DO,
icListen Hydrophones, active acoustics and cameras.

CREDITS & ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:
DANIEL ESSER, CONTROS
MARK WOOD, OCEAN SONICS
CHRIS TEAL, NEPTUNE OCEANOGRAPHIC
PATRICK OROURKE, ESB INTERNATIONAL
MATT MAJOR, SEA-BIRD
Image courtesy of Contros