Basic Acoustic Wave Time-Frequency Parameters of Buried Gas Pipeline Leakage
Publication: Journal of Pipeline Systems Engineering and Practice
Volume 15, Issue 4
Abstract
Upon leakage in underground gas pipelines, the interaction between soil particles and gas will produce acoustic events exhibiting varied frequencies, amplitudes, and energy characteristics. In order to obtain the acoustic response of gas pipeline leaks that are buried, experiments were conducted using a two-dimensional visual leak testing facility. Employing time-domain parameter analysis, fast Fourier transform (FFT), and wavelet packet analysis (WPT), this study meticulously investigated the impact of gas pressure and soil moisture on the time-frequency characteristics of the acoustic waves throughout the leakage process. The results show that: (1) the amplitude, dominant frequency, and energy of acoustic waves closely relate to the deformation and disturbance of soil morphology, (2) the amplitude of acoustic waves increases and decreases exponentially with the increase of gas pressure and soil moisture content, respectively, (3) the main frequency response of acoustic waves during the erosion process predominantly lies within the 0 to 1 kHz range, exhibiting an “N-shaped” cyclical variation, and it tends to decrease with the increase in gas pressure and increase with the rise in soil moisture content, (4) as the leakage process continues, the energy ratio of 0–156.25 Hz increases continuously, the maximum is 45.24%, and the frequency bands of 0–156.25 Hz and 156.25–312.5 Hz demonstrate a strong responsive pattern to variations in soil moisture content and gas pressure, respectively. Therefore, these two can be utilized as the characteristic frequency bands to represent the effects of moisture content and gas pressure, and (5) the leakage acoustic sources primarily originate from pipe wall vibrations, gas impact on soil particles, and friction within the soil particle medium, with the latter two types of vibrations generating more propagative acoustic waves. The research results are of great significance to the prediction of soil structure damage and the acoustic monitoring of gas leakage.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
Data Availability Statement
All data, models, or code generated or used during the study are available from the corresponding author by request.
Acknowledgments
This work is supported by the Anhui University of Science and Technology youth fund project (QNYB202203); Scientific and Technological Research Platform for Disaster Prevention and Control of Deep Coal Mining (Anhui University of Science and Technology) (NO. DPDCM2202); The National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 52174161); The Institute of Energy, Hefei Comprehensive National Science Center under Grant No. 21KZS216; and Anhui University Natural Science Research Project (KJ2021A0419).
Author contributions: Aohan Zhao: Writing–original draft, Funding acquisition, Software. Yankun Ma: Supervision, Funding acquisition, Validation, Writing–review and editing. Tong Zhang: Funding acquisition, Supervision, Conceptualization, Methodology. Xi Zhang: Funding acquisition, Data Curation. Hongyong Yuan: Formal analysis.
References
Alghlam, A. S. M., V. D. Stevanovic, E. A. Elgazdor, and M. Banjac. 2019. “Numerical simulation of natural gas pipeline transients.” J. Energy Res. Technol. 141 (10): 102002. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4043436.
Berardi, L., and O. Giustolisi. 2021. “Calibration of design models for leakage management of water distribution networks.” Water Resour. Manage. 35 (8): 2537–2551. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11269-021-02847-x.
Cui, X. L., J. Li, A. Chan, and D. Chapman. 2012. “A 2D DEM-LBM study on soil behaviour due to locally injected fluid.” Particuology 10 (2): 242–252. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.partic.2011.10.002.
Cui, X. W., Y. Ma, Y. F. Ma, L. Ma, and X. J. Han. 2016. “Localization of leakage from transportation pipelines through low frequency acoustic emission detection.” Sens. Actuators, A 237 (Jan): 107–118. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sna.2015.11.029.
Datta, S., and S. Sarkar. 2016. “A review on different pipeline fault detection methods.” J. Loss Prev. Process Ind. 41 (May): 97–106. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jlp.2016.03.010.
Duong, B. P., J. Y. Kim, I. Jeong, C. H. Kim, and J. M. Kim. 2020. “Acoustic emission burst extraction for multi-level leakage detection in a pipeline.” Appl. Sci. 10 (6): 1933. https://doi.org/10.3390/app10061933.
Fang, L. P., B. Z. Yin, L. Y. Meng, Y. X. Li, C. W. Liu, and Y. Xue. 2022. “Leak-acoustics generation mechanism for gas-liquid pipeline slug flow.” J. Vib. Shock 41 (12): 229–237. https://doi.org/10.13465/j.cnki.jvs.2022.12.028.
Gao, L., L. S. Zhao, J. Liu, and H. J. Dong. 2017. “Spectral characteristic simulation of leakage pressure wave in gas pipeline.” Ind. Saf. Environ. Prot. 43 (1): 65–68. https://doi.org/10.3969/j.issn.1001-425X.2017.01.018.
GAQSIQ and MOC (General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine of the People’s Republic of China and Ministry of Construction of the People’s Republic of China). 2015. Code for design of gas transmission pipeline engineering. GB50251-2015. Beijing: China Planning Press.
GAQSIQ and MOC (General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine of the People’s Republic of China and Ministry of Construction of the People’s Republic of China). 2020. Urban gas design code. GB 50028-2019. Beijing: China Architecture and Building Press.
Hassan, F., L. A. Rahim, A. K. Mahmood, and S. A. Abed. 2022. “A hybrid particle swarm optimization-based wavelet threshold denoising algorithm for acoustic emission signals.” Symmetry 14 (6): 1253. https://doi.org/10.3390/sym14061253.
He, T. J., S. Q. Mo, E. Z. Fang, M. G. Wang, and R. Zhang. 2021. “Modeling three-dimensional underwater acoustic propagation over multi-layered fluid seabeds using the equivalent source method.” J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 150 (4): 2854–2864. https://doi.org/10.1121/10.0006663.
Hu Yang, M. M. 2014. The research on infrasonic and its leak detection system for oil and gas pipelines. Xi’an, China: Xi’an Petroleum Univ.
Jiang, W. M., J. Yang, J. H. Zhu, Y. Liu, Y. M. Chen, Q. M. Sun, Y. D. Wang, and H. K. Zhang. 2018. “Experimental study on the transport characteristics of buried pipeline leakage and the performance of groundwater remediation system.” Environ. Sci. Pollut. Res. 25 (36): 36570–36580. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-018-3490-0.
Jin, H., L. B. Zhang, W. Liang, and Q. K. Ding. 2014. “Integrated leakage detection and localization model for gas pipelines based on the acoustic wave method.” J. Loss Prev. Process Ind. 27 (Jan): 74–88. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jlp.2013.11.006.
Kim, M. S., and S. K. Lee. 2009. “Detection of leak acoustic signal in buried gas pipe based on the time-frequency analysis.” J. Loss Prev. Process Ind. 22 (6): 990–994. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jlp.2008.08.009.
Li, J., Q. Zheng, Y. L. Cong, and Q. Qiao. 2020. “Pipeline leakage location algorithm based on time-frequency peak filtering.” J. Jilin Univ. 50 (4): 1517–1521. https://doi.org/10.13229/j.cnki.jdxbgxb20190437.
Li, S. C. 2007. Study on the characteristics of acoustic sources and acoustic emission signals for pipeline gas leakage. Daqing, China: Daqing Petroleum Institute.
Liang, Z. Z., R. X. Xue, N. W. Xu, and W. R. Li. 2020. “Characterizing rockbursts and analysis on frequency-spectrum evolutionary law of rockburst precursor based on microseismic monitoring.” Tunnelling Underground Space Technol. 105 (Nov): 103564. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tust.2020.103564.
Lighthill, M. J. 1954. “On sound generated aerodynamically II. Turbulence as a source of sound.” Proc. R. Soc. London, Ser. A 222 (1148): 1–32. https://doi.org/10.2307/99373.
Liu, C. W., H. F. Jing, L. P. Fang, and M. H. Xu. 2018. “Theoretical study on acoustic attenuation model for gas pipeline leakage.” Vib. Shock 37 (20): 109–114. https://doi.org/10.13465/j.cnki.jvs.2018.20.017.
Liu, C. W., Y. X. Li, L. P. Fang, and M. H. Xu. 2017. “Experimental study on a de-noising system for gas and oil pipelines based on an acoustic leak detection and location method.” Int. J. Press. Vessels Pip. 151 (May): 20–34. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpvp.2017.02.001.
Liu, C. W., Y. X. Li, L. Y. Meng, W. C. Wang, and F. Zhang. 2014. “Study on leak-acoustics generation mechanism for natural gas pipelines.” J. Loss Prev. Process Ind. 32 (Nov): 174–181. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jlp.2014.08.010.
Lu, H. F., T. Iseley, S. Behbahani, and L. D. Fu. 2020. “Leakage detection techniques for oil and gas pipelines: State-of-the-art.” Tunnelling Underground Space Technol. 98 (Apr): 103249. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tust.2019.103249.
Lukonge, A. B., X. W. Cao, and P. Zhang. 2021. “Experimental study on leak detection and location for gas pipelines based on acoustic waves using improved Hilbert-Huang transform.” J. Pipeline Syst. Eng. Pract. 12 (1): 04020072. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)PS.1949-1204.0000529.
Maraval, D., R. Gabet, Y. Jaouen, and V. Lamour. 2017. “Dynamic optical fiber sensing with Brillouin optical time domain reflectometry: Application to pipeline vibration monitoring.” J. Lightwave Technol. 35 (16): 3296–3302. https://doi.org/10.1109/JLT.2016.2614835.
Meng, L. Y., Y. X. Li, W. C. Wang, and J. T. Fu. 2012. “Experimental study on leak detection and location for gas pipeline based on acoustic method.” J. Loss Prev. Process Ind. 25 (1): 90102. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jlp.2011.07.001.
Meniconi, S., C. Capponi, M. Frisinghelli, and B. Brunone. 2021. “Leak detection in a real transmission main through transient tests: Deeds and misdeeds.” Water Resour. Res. 57 (3): e2020WR027838. https://doi.org/10.1029/2020WR027838.
MOC (Ministry of Construction of the People’s Republic of China). 2005. Code for construction and acceptance of urban gas transmission and distribution engineering. CJJ33–2005. Beijing: China Architecture and Building Press.
Mostafapour, A., and S. Davoodi. 2015. “A theoretical and experimental study on acoustic waves caused by leakage in buried gas-filled pipe.” Appl. Acoust. 87 (Jan): 1–8. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apacoust.2014.06.009.
Praagman, F., and F. Rambags. 2008. Migration of natural gas through the shallow subsurface. Utrecht, Netherlands: Univ. of Utrecht.
Sekhavati, J., S. H. Hashemabadi, and M. Soroush. 2022. “Computational methods for pipeline leakage detection and localization: A review and comparative study.” J. Loss Prev. Process Ind. 77 (Jul): 104771. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jlp.2022.104771.
Sheltami, T. R., A. Bala, and E. M. Shakshuk. 2016. “Wireless sensor networks for leak detection in pipelines: A survey.” J. Ambient Intell. Hum. Comput. 7 (3): 347–356. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12652-016-0362-7.
Sun, H. Y., Z. X. Chen, X. H. Lai, X. Yan, and T. J. Hu. 2019. “Influence of shallow gas on the geotechnical properties of pockmark soil: A case study in the East China Sea.” Appl. Ocean Res. 93 (Dec): 101966. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apor.2019.101966.
Thang, B. Q., and J. M. Kim. 2020. “Leak detection in a gas pipeline using spectral portrait of acoustic emission signals.” Measurement 152 (Feb): 107403. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.measurement.2019.107403.
Wang, S. F., L. L. Dong, and J. G. Wang. 2021. “Continuous leak location in gas-filled steel pipe based on optimum wavelet analysis of leak AE signal.” J. Test. Eval. 49 (4): 1–17. https://doi.org/10.1520/JTE20180889.
Watanabe, K., and D. M. Himmelblau. 1986. “Detection and location of a leak in a gas-transport pipeline by a new acoustic method.” AlChE J. 32 (10): 1690–1701. https://doi.org/10.1002/aic.690321012.
Xiao, R., Q. F. Hu, and J. Li. 2019. “Leak detection of gas pipelines using acoustic waves based on wavelet transform and Support Vector Machine.” Measurement 146 (Nov): 479–489. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.measurement.2019.06.050.
Xu, C. H., P. Gong, J. Xie, H. D. Shi, G. M. Chen, and G. B. Song. 2016. “An acoustic emission based multi-level approach to buried gas pipeline leakage localization.” J. Loss Prev. Process Ind. 44 (Nov): 397–404. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jlp.2016.10.014.
Yan, X., H. Y. Sun, Z. X. Chen, F. X. Shuai, Z. L. Wei, and Y. Q. Xu. 2020. “Physical experimental study on the formation mechanism of pockmark by aeration.” Mar. Georesour. Geotechnol. 38 (3–4): 322–331. https://doi.org/10.1080/1064119X.2019.1571539.
Yang, L. J., X. F. Jing, and Z. G. Gong. 2007. “Research on acoustic wave leakage detection technology for gas transmission pipeline.” J. Shenyang Univ. Technol. 29 (1): 70–73. https://doi.org/10.3969/j.issn.1000-1646.2007.01.018.
Ye, W., L. Xu, B. Ye, B. Chen, Y. Chen, and Y. Cui. 2017. “Experimental investigation on gas migration in saturated Shanghai soft clay.” Eng. Geol. 222 (May): 20–28. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enggeo.2017.03.024.
Yu, X. C., W. Liang, L. B. Zhang, H. Jin, and J. W. Qiu. 2016. “Dual-tree complex wavelet transform and SVD based acoustic noise reduction and its application in leak detection for natural gas pipeline.” Mech. Syst. Signal Process. 72–73 (May): 266–285. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ymssp.2015.10.034.
Zandi, E., A. A. Alemrajabi, M. D. Emami, and M. Hassanpour. 2022. “Numerical study of gas leakage from a pipeline and its concentration evaluation based on modern and practical leak detection methods.” J. Loss Prev. Process Ind. 80 (Dec): 104890. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jlp.2022.104890.
Zhang, J., Z. H. Lian, Z. M. Zhou, M. Xiong, M. M. Lian, and J. Zheng. 2021a. “Acoustic method of high-pressure natural gas pipelines leakage detection: Numerical and applications.” Int. J. Press. Vessels Pip. 194 (Dec): 104540. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpvp.2021.104540.
Zhang, P. S., C. Liu, D. X. Yao, Y. C. Ou, and Y. T. Tian. 2022a. “Multi-physical field joint monitoring of buried gas pipeline leakage based on BOFDA.” Meas. Sci. Technol. 33 (10): 105202. https://doi.org/10.1088/1361-6501/ac7bd6.
Zhang, Y., S. S. Du, C. W. Gu, Q. Xia, P. Q. Liu, and C. H. Xu. 2021b. “Acoustic emission detection of horizontal two-phase flow pipeline leakage in oil and gas drilling and production based on experimental research.” China Offshore Oil Gas 33 (1): 158–165. https://doi.org/10.11935/j.issn.1673-1506.2021.01.020.
Zhang, Y. H., Y. E. Li, and T. Ku. 2021c. “Soil/rock interface profiling using a new passive seismic survey: Autocorrelation seismic interferometry.” Tunnelling Underground Space Technol. 115 (Sep): 104045. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tust.2021.104045.
Zhang, Z. W., L. X. Zhang, M. Fu, D. Ozevin, and H. Y. Yuan. 2022b. “Study on leak localization for buried gas pipelines based on an acoustic method.” Tunnelling Underground Space Technol. 120 (Feb): 104247. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tust.2021.104247.
Zhao, A. H., Y. K. Ma, J. Liu, D. Z. Chen, H. Y. Yuan, and M. Fu. 2020. “Energy characteristics of AE signal frequency band during coal rupture in mines with gas.” China Saf. Sci. J. 30 (3): 115–121. https://doi.org/10.16265/j.cnki.issn1003-3033.2020.03.018.
Zhao, A. H., Y. K. Ma, J. Liu, Y. B. Li, Q. Zhong, H. Y. Yuan, and M. Fu. 2021. “Morphological characteristics of overlying soil eroded by leakage gas from buried pipelines.” J. Pipeline Syst. Eng. Pract. 12 (4): 04021063. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)PS.1949-1204.0000613.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Copyright
© 2024 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Jan 14, 2024
Accepted: May 14, 2024
Published online: Aug 5, 2024
Published in print: Nov 1, 2024
Discussion open until: Jan 5, 2025
ASCE Technical Topics:
- Acoustics
- Buried pipes
- Continuum mechanics
- Detection methods
- Dynamics (solid mechanics)
- Energy engineering
- Energy infrastructure
- Engineering fundamentals
- Engineering mechanics
- Gas pipelines
- Geomechanics
- Geotechnical engineering
- Infrastructure
- Lifeline systems
- Methodology (by type)
- Pipe leakage
- Pipeline management
- Pipeline systems
- Pipelines
- Pipes
- Pressure (type)
- Soil dynamics
- Soil gas
- Soil mechanics
- Soil pressure
- Soil properties
- Solid mechanics
- Wave pressure
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.