Q: Can LINEGUARD locate leaks?
A: Yes. The system has been proven to locate leaks within 5% of the pressure transmitter spacing or 1 km (whichever is greater).
Q: Can LINEGUARD estimate the leak size?
A: Yes. The system is capable of estimating leak size and calculates the quantity of product leaked.
Q: Can LINEGUARD handle batched lines?
A: As long as the system knows what the product is and the time that it entered the pipeline, it will be able to track the batch.
Q: How does booster pump start up and shut down affect your system?
A: LINEGUARD is capable of operating without generating false alarms or changing alarm thresholds for both pump start up and shut down.
Q: How does pipeline start up and shut down affect your system?
A: Neither pipeline start up nor shut down affect the operation of LINEGUARD. It can operate under both steady state and transient conditions and is capable of handling pipeline start up and shut down without creating false alarms and without changing alarm thresholds.
Q: How does LINEGUARD work?
A: LINEGUARD mathematically separates the pipeline into slices between pressure measurement points and the uses the model of an electrical transmission line (RLC circuit) to calculate the fluid properties within each slice. Series resistance (R) depends on the pipeline friction factor and is also proportional to flow rate. The series inductance (L) represents the inertia of the fluid mass within the slice. The parallel capacitance (C) stores the pressure-induced fluid linepack.
Q: How efficient is LINEGUARD at minimizing false alarms?
A: It is very efficient at minimizing false alarms. This can be attributed to the Linepack calculation performed by the system, which enables it to model the storage of the pipeline, and this allows for greater accuracy in leak detection and location.
Q: How much support will I need once this system is installed?
A: Little to no support is required once LINEGUARD is installed, however Colt WorleyParsons offers a number of Service Level Agreements to meet all customer needs.
Q: How quickly does LINEGUARD detect and / or locate leaks?
A: The time taken to detect and/or locate a leak is dependent upon numerous factors. These include: line length and diameter, metering accuracy, quality of data received by the LINEGUARD system, and data update times.
Q: How small of a leak can you detect?
A: The accuracy of LINEGUARD is dependent upon the accuracy of the metering installed on the pipeline. The system has been able to detect leaks as small as 1-2% of pipeline flow rate.
Q: What are the advantages / benefits of LINEGUARD ?
A:
- Installs seamlessly with existing SCADA systems
- Requires no additional pipeline hardware in an optimized operation
- Provides logs, alarms, and data retention to suit operator preferences
- Remains independent of upgrades to SCADA systems
- Complies with CSA and API standards
- Connects to Colt product support via modem, telephone, or Internet
Q: What are the requirements for LINEGUARD ?
A: LINEGUARD has basic instrumentation requirements applicable to all fluid pipelines. Pressure transmitters, temperature transmitters, and flow meters are required at all inlets and outlets. Pressure transmitters are required at all junctions between the mainline and laterals. In the case of batched lines or lines with a wide density range, density indication is required. As well data received by the system must be time stamped.
Q: What is Linepack?
A: Linepack is the amount of product in the pipeline at standard conditions.
Q: What is the basis of your leak detection system?
A: LINEGUARD is a software-based system that performs material balance calculations to detect and locate leaks.
Q: What types of liquid or gas does LINEGUARD apply to?
A: It can be applied to single phase gas and liquid pipelines. The system is currently operating on pipelines carrying natural gas, NGL’s, diesel, crude oils, jet fuel, and other hydrocarbons related to the petrochemical industry. If you can accurately measure it, LINEGUARD will be able to handle it.
Q: What types of topologies can LINEGUARD handle?
A: LINEGUARD handles simple inlet and outlet systems to systems with multiple laterals and reversible lines.
