Wireless Network for Real-Time Detection of Pipeline Leakages

Despite the fact that pipelines remain the safest means of oil and gas transportation, incidents still persist and pipeline acceptance from the public has become compromised. In an attempt to address this growing problem, a novel pipeline system is proposed. This concept involves segmenting the pipeline system with segmentation rings and embedding a linear wireless network in the annular airgap between the two pipe layers. Presence of fluid in the case of a leakage into the interpipe space causes degradation of the wireless network to a point of interrupting the communication in a particular pipeline segment far before any external leak occurring.