Detecting, locating and sizing leaks in water pipelines remains a major challenge for the effective management of pipeline assets. Selecting the most appropriate leak detection system for a survey depends on a number of factor not least of which is the level of accuracy (or uncertainty) that can be accepted from the measurement technique. This can render many detection methods ineffective when the pipe is inaccessible or where above ground access is restricted. In 1999 the world's longest High Density Polyethylene water pipeline had to be certified as 'leak tight' which required the measurement of losses of a few litres per hour to a location accuracy of a few metres. One of the biggest difficulty was that the pipeline was subsea and buried. BHR Solutions used its unique HEARLEAK system to perform a 100% survey of the pipeline to not only look for leaks but (if found) to also both pin-point their location and estimate the size of the leak. This paper describes the practical issues that needed to be engineered to ensure that the survey was carried out without problems (in the hope that the reader will appreciate the benefits of this approach while also understand the technical issues that need to be addressed) and details the technology behind the leak detection system.
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