Aerial Leak Detection for Significantly Improved Integrity Assurance


== Abstract ==

BP gas production operations in North America manages over 15,000 miles of onshore pipelines that make up our vast, complex, and aging gas gathering networks. Surveying these for leaks presents a huge resource challenge using current ground based technology and, in turn, impacts the assurance of the safety and integrity of these operations. The Exploration and Production Technology Group evaluated new leak detection technologies using laser, thermal imaging camera and a high speed gas sampling detector that were deployed on aircraft and used global positioning systems coordinates to survey gas gathering pipelines. Field trials on gas gathering systems in the North Texas, Anadarko asset showed that the laser and gas sampling based leak detection systems were the most accurate, but the video imaging from the thermal camera made a powerful statement. Helicopters proved to be more suitable in leak detection surveys on gas gathering pipelines than that of fixed-wing aircraft. The aerial leak detection technologies produce a significant increase in efficiency and productivity in managing the integrity of BP’s gas gathering systems. While that improves business performance, perhaps more importantly is the fact that small gas leaks can be easily found before they become big ones. That reduces environmental damage and the potential for leaks to impact the public. The development and implementation of aerial leak detection in BP is being recognized as an integrity tool in providing a significantly improved integrity assurance to its gas gathering operations. A. Introduction The Exploration and Production Technology Group (EPTG) has worked closely with leading companies in the development of aerial gas leak detection technologies capable and suitable to the BP North America operations in gas production. Also potential applications lie in operations outside of North America as well as future capital projects. The safety and integrity of BP operations has become increasing important as the oil and gas industry has become closely watched and scrutinized by stakeholders, government agencies and the public. BP has been working diligently in providing assurance to its facilities and processes especially its gas gathering systems. BP strives to achieve its safety values where No Accidents, No Harm to People, and No Damage to the Environment within its operations. Several companies that were evaluated employing leading technologies in gas leak detection systems (LDS). Three different technologies for gas leak detection systems are laser, thermal camera, and sophisticated gas sampling based detection technologies and were tested in field trials. All of these technologies were installed on aircraft either helicopters or fixed-wing aircraft and can be deployed on the ground via vehicle mounted or hand held use. The remote detection capabilities of these technologies were attractive features that showed promise in using it on the BP gas gathering systems in order to meet its safety and integrity in the operation of gas gathering systems (GGS). B. Leak Detection Technologies The following technologies were reviewed: lasers, thermal camera and gas sampling based systems for leak detection systems (LDS). These hardware technologies have remote capabilities and can detect and locate leaks from a distance that can be deployed on fast moving aircraft giving them rapid measurement capabilities. There are obvious advantages in using aircraft compared to ground methods and will be discussed in the following section. Lasers (in the infrared wavelength) using light detection and radar (LIDAR) principles, similar to that of


== Original document ==

The different versions of the original document can be found in:

* [http://dx.doi.org/10.2523/101283-ms http://dx.doi.org/10.2523/101283-ms]

* [http://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/7515/3896219856b4911ee60f05a6571e5104bd9a.pdf http://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/7515/3896219856b4911ee60f05a6571e5104bd9a.pdf]

* [http://www.dmda.biz/pdf/SPE-101283-MS-P.pdf http://www.dmda.biz/pdf/SPE-101283-MS-P.pdf],
: [https://www.onepetro.org/conference-paper/SPE-101283-MS https://www.onepetro.org/conference-paper/SPE-101283-MS],
: [https://academic.microsoft.com/#/detail/1984549444 https://academic.microsoft.com/#/detail/1984549444]

* [http://www.onepetro.org/google/Papers/SPE/eLibrary_Papers/spe/2006/06ADIP/SPE-101283-MS/SPE-101283-MS-P.pdf?id=SPE-101283-MS&soc=SPE http://www.onepetro.org/google/Papers/SPE/eLibrary_Papers/spe/2006/06ADIP/SPE-101283-MS/SPE-101283-MS-P.pdf?id=SPE-101283-MS&soc=SPE],
: [http://dx.doi.org/10.2118/101283-ms http://dx.doi.org/10.2118/101283-ms]



DOIS: 10.2523/101283-ms 10.2118/101283-ms