PIPELINE LEAK DETECTION BASED ON MASS-BALANCE - IMPORTANCE OF THE PACKING TERM

After a brief survey of pipeline leak detection techniques, some mass balance systems are presented. Such systems use a pipeline flow model in order to compute the change in pipeline inventory during a transien t flow. The packing term, whose importance is highlighted, is a functi on of the speed of sound in the pipeline. However, generally, the para meters on which the speed of sound depends are poorly defined. The con sequences on leak detection thresholds are described.