Proactive Detection Methodology of Line Break Condition of the Pipeline

Abstract

Summary This paper described an innovative approach of pipeline break prevention, which can be utilized in any facility/organization that would like to enhance its reliability, security, and efficiency. The basic concept of this approach can be applied not only in the petroleum industry, but extended to other industries. In most of pipelines in industry, there is pipeline break detection alarm(s) system for emergency shutdown action(s) in case of real pipeline break condition happens. This pipeline break detection has been based upon the pipeline service condition changes, high-high flow and low pressure in general. These setting values may vary depending on site or process condition. However, since the setting values are based on worst or maximum process operating condition on flow and pressure against pipeline bursting, the pipeline break alarm(s) cannot be detected even though it actually happens at below the pipeline break condition setting values. Moreover, existing pipeline break alarming system cannot protect the break incident proactively as it is designed after the fact. Khurais Producing Department in Saudi Aramco developed new automated logic program to proactively detect pipeline break symptom and condition by utilizing the combination of existing flow and pressure data, not by fixed setting values but by dynamic setting values, rate of changes per specific period of time, which can be defined depending on processes. The proactive pipeline break detection will generate multiple levels of pre-alarms such as pre-warning alarm, intermediate alarm based on calculated rate of change values, and eventually pipeline break alarm with associated Emergency Shutdown event triggering actions will be made for actual pipeline break condition(s). With this new methodology most of pipeline break symptom and condition can be proactively detected in real time basis, the fact of which will provide plant operator enough time to take necessary action before the real pipeline break happens. The cost saving with this simply but powerful feature will be huge comparing to any recovery cost caused by catastrophic pipeline break incident.