High-Precision Single-Leak Detection and Localization in Single-Phase Liquid Pipelines Using the Negative Pressure Wave Technique: An Application in a Real-Field Case Study

Summary This paper presents a novel workflow for high-precision leak detection in pipeline networks using the negative pressure wave (NPW) technique. The proposed workflow addresses challenges associated with noisy and convoluted pressure transducer data, rapid pressure decay, and the need for robustness in leak event detection. To overcome these challenges, the workflow incorporates data preprocessing techniques for cleansing, normalization, and denoising, as well as dynamic pressure control limit lines to differentiate between pump and leak events. Multiple transducer analysis techniques are used to minimize false positives. Synthetic leak scenarios are generated using the Water Network Tool for Resilience (WNTR) package, enabling a comprehensive assessment of the workflow’s performance. The generated scenarios are validated through pressure history matching against field inline pressure recordings. A dashboard is developed for real-time visualization and verification of leak events. The effectiveness of the workflow is demonstrated through testing on a real network, resulting in the successful detection and precise localization of a confirmed leak event. The workflow proves its capability to achieve high accuracy, with a 100-m resolution in a complex network configuration with 29 pipe sections and 1-Hz pressure signal recordings. For synthetic leak events, a 10-Hz pressure signal is utilized, achieving a remarkable 10-m accuracy. Moreover, the integration of the workflow with supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) systems is showcased, highlighting its potential for near real-time leak detection in practical applications. Overall, this paper presents a comprehensive and effective workflow for high-precision leak detection and localization in pipeline networks, offering valuable insights into improving the efficiency and reliability of leak detection systems.