New Acoustic Leak System Saves Money Offshore

摘要

It is rare when a new submarine pipeline fails a pre-commissioning hydrotest because of leaks; however, a leak at that time can prove incredibly costly for the pipeline construction company because clients generally will not accept the pipeline until a hydrotest has been successfully completed. When a sub-sea hydrotest fails, it is important to locate the leaks as soon as possible in order to start repair activities. Problems arise when trying to locate holes or cracks (perhaps only a few square millimeters) in possibly hundreds of kilometers of submerged pipeline. This is particularly difficult if the pipeline is either partially or totally buried in the sediment.