Patent ID: 6446491
Filing Date: 2002-09-10
Classification: G01M

Abstract:
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(âˆ’A,t1)/DP(B,t1)=Cos h(A)/Cos h(Lâˆ’A) whereDP(âˆ’A,t1)=differential pressure between one end of said pipeline section and its respective standard pressure vessel at time t1, a time later than a selected zero datum time; 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.