Risk-Based Evaluation of Subsea Pipeline Leak Detection Technologies

Continuous monitoring of subsea pipelines is the best way to detect leaks quickly. A number of systems and technologies exist for this purpose. The present work describes an analytical approach to making decisions related to best technology selection. The proposed approach uses a risk-based methodology for identifying the best technology. The key focus of the present work is to develop a method to quantify uncertainties involved with leak detection technologies on subsea arctic pipelines and use the quantified uncertainty in decision-making. The proposed methodology considers a broad range of factors. It gives an overall risk, as well as, revealing the strengths and weaknesses of the leak detection technologies in different subcategories. The proposed methodology is demonstrated using a case study.