Key pipeline solution updates
Building on the success of Q1 2024, we’ve ended the second quarter of 2024 with ongoing pipeline leak detection and theft detection for our customers.
Quarterly achievements
- Six thefts detected
- Six SATs completed
- Eight FATs completed
- 12 training sessions delivered
- Two customers upgraded to the latest software
Below is a selection of success stories from a busy quarter at Atmos, including:
- Leak detection in challenging pipeline monitoring scenarios
- African theft in the night and overcoming comms issues in Asia
- Sustainability updates in carbon capture and storage (CCS) and water management
- Our exhibition and presentations at eight events across the world
Read our quarterly update below to find out more.
Proving leak detection is possible in the most complicated pipeline scenarios
While a pipeline might seem linear on the surface, monitoring for leaks on some pipeline networks is not always a straightforward process.
This quarter we successfully installed Atmos Eclipse unit on a river-crossing section of a UK customer’s pipeline. The customer was concerned that a flood event would damage the pipeline’s integrity so they opted for non-intrusive leak detection hardware in this high consequence area (HCA).
The surrounding area was muddy, creating a challenge for Atmos colleagues, with the pit for the installation being tight and partially flooded, but Atmos Eclipse is designed for rapid deployment so we could overcome these challenges to successfully install the unit, which is now operational and powered by solar energy.
Figure 1: The solar panel powering Atmos Eclipse (left) and the tight space where Atmos Eclipse was installed (right)
Atmos Eclipse has been installed on many pipelines around the world. The non-intrusive leak detection equipment measures flow, pressure and temperature as part of a leak detection system to effectively detect and locate leaks. The data Atmos Eclipse collects can be communicated through wired ethernet, cellular, radio and standard RS485 in real-time to a central location.
Like the tight spaces on this UK customer’s river-crossing pipeline, Atmos Eclipse has a range of features that enable leak detection in the most challenging pipeline monitoring scenarios, such as:
- Wind and solar power to support pipelines in remote locations with limited power or communications
- Highly sensitive and accurate leak location to reduce uncertainty in HCAs
- Clamp-on technology to allow compatibility on pipeline diameters ranging from 4 to 48 inches
- Configurable to a range of hydraulic conditions where there is elevation change, such as slack pipelines or river crossings
Discover more updates to leak detection improvements in challenging pipeline monitoring scenarios
African theft in the night and overcoming comms issues in Asia
Africa
This year, a 1 km section of a customer’s pipeline has received eight alarms from Atmos’ theft detection system as thieves continue to ramp up their theft activities in the region.
A recent theft event took place at 2:34 am, with Atmos Wave providing a location estimate that only deviated from the actual location by 280 m. Further offline analysis by Atmos Theft Net engineers estimated a leak rate and an approximate amount for the product withdrawn, which was ~60 liters.
Another theft in the night recently took place on a pipeline in Africa at 1:26 am, with our software providing an exact location estimate. From valve open to closure, the theft event lasted a total of one minute and the customer found the hole but no valve or hose was attached yet.
Theft in the night is typically a well organized operation and can involve resources including commercial grade welding equipment, measuring instruments, night vision goggles and, in some cases, vans with modified suspension or exit holes in the floor.
Learn more about nighttime theft
Asia
Based on feedback from Atmos Theft Net engineers, a customer in Asia recently found a tapping point on its pipeline.
Atmos Theft Net combines fixed and portable hardware solutions to collect and analyze pipeline data. Experienced engineers trained in the latest theft detection techniques analyze the data in greater detail to locate the theft site to within meters.
Despite communication failures at one pressure sensor’s location on this pipeline, Atmos Theft Net engineers were able to locate this customer’s tapping point.
The tapping point was not initially identified because the customer had comms issues at the station upstream of the tapping point.
With their careful attention to detail, Atmos Theft Net engineers successfully calculated a location estimate by extending the instance using a different sensor further upstream.
In another instance this quarter, Atmos Wave detected a theft and located the tapping point on a customer’s crude oil pipeline in Asia.
Impressively, the tapping point was found only 1 hour and 52 minutes after Atmos Wave raised the alarm at 3:30 am. The tapping point’s actual location was only 200 meters from the location reported to the customer too, proving that a reliable and accurate theft detection system can result in customers quickly getting to the site of a theft to minimize product loss and limit potential damages.
Discover how we curb pipeline theft globally
Our solutions Download the ebook
From carbon capture and storage (CCS) to water management: our sustainability updates
Leak detection on a groundbreaking CCS project
We’ve begun working on a carbon capture and storage (CCS) project, which will see Atmos provide leak detection solutions for a flagship energy transition project in mainland Europe.
Atmos Pipe will play a fundamental role in this project, which has been at the forefront of leak detection technology since its release as the first statistical volume balance system in 1995.
Atmos Pipe uses the powerful Sequential Probability Ratio Test (SPRT) with pressure and flow analysis to optimize leak detection.
Overcoming water scarcity in Latin America
Approximately 2.7 billion people experience water scarcity for at least one month per year, which is why we’re bringing our 30 years’ oil and gas experience to the water industry.
We’ve recently begun supporting a water company in Latin America with its water distribution system so it can minimize water loss and improve the provision of its service.
Using Atmos Black Box to record important data, this project will support the water customer on its commitment to minimizing water waste in the region, reducing operational costs for the customer and positively impacting the lives of thousands of families suffering from water scarcity in the region.
Figure 2: Installing instrumentation on the customer’s pipeline in Latin America
Exhibiting and presenting at eight events across the world
Asserting our position as a global industry leader, Atmos colleagues have been present at eight events across the world this quarter.
Europe
We exhibited and presented at the Pipeline Technology Conference (ptc), Europe’s premier event for the pipeline industry. ptc provides a platform for the international pipeline community to share invaluable experiences, technical advancements and lessons learned. The following papers from Atmos were presented at the conference:
Updates on leak detection improvements in challenging pipeline monitoring scenarios
Presented by Harry Smith, Sales and Senior Research Engineer
Carbon dioxide pipelines: Addressing the challenges using pipeline simulation tools
Presented by Garry Hanmer, Senior Simulation Consultant
Additionally, our client Brazilian pipeline company Nova Transportadora do Sudeste (NTS) shared their experience in systematically selecting the most suitable simulation experts for their natural gas transmission network in the following presentation:
Selection and acceptance criteria for RTTM gas pipeline simulation system
Presented by Renata Reis, Nova Transportadora do Sudeste (NTS)
In Spain, we exhibited at the International Water Association’s (IWA) Water Loss event, with Business Development Director for water Martin Duff presenting a paper on “A multimethod leak detection strategy to reduce the global water loss”. Contact us to find out what you missed.
Atmos colleagues also ventured to Scotland to showcase Atmos Simulation (SIM) Suite and our hardware solutions at the Energy Exports Conference, an event that connects business across the oil and gas, hydrogen, carbon capture, wind and nuclear industries.
Latin America
We were present at this year’s Arpel - Naturgas Week 2024 event to focus on the energy transition and analyze the different international trends along with public and regulatory policies in the region.
We also attended Fluent Pipe 2024 as a silver sponsor, with a presentation on “Real-time water batch tracking and other operation support tools”.
Middle East
At the Oman Petroleum & Energy Show, we showcased our leak and theft detection hardware and software solutions and simulation tools at the conference which serves the entire oil, gas and energy industry.
US
The American Petroleum Institute’s API Pipeline Conference is widely recognized as a leading event both in the USA and internationally for educational insights into pipeline safety (including safety management systems), environmental and other regulations, construction, management of change, contractor management and a myriad of other topics.
Atmos colleagues presented on a range of topics at the conference, including:
- Compliance with CFR 195.417 rupture detection classification
- Over 2,100 pipeline thefts detected - what should you look for?
- Impact of a comprehensive offline trainer for liquid pipeline operations
We also attended this year’s Pipeline Simulation Interest Group (PSIG) annual conference, which aims to facilitate information exchange and advance modeling, simulation, optimization and various aspects related to fluid pipeline systems. The group focuses on steady-state and transient flows, single and multiphase flows, and related subjects. The following presentations were delivered by Atmos colleagues:
Dynamic programming applied to DRA optimization and power contract optimization
Presented by Jason Modisette, Chief Simulation Scientist
Simulating carbon dioxide pipelines: addressing challenges and modeling approaches
Presented by Garry Hanmer, Senior Simulation Consultant
Our Chief Simulation Scientist Jason Modisette also received an award for best paper by PSIG for his 2023 work on the manual tuning of pipeline models.
Missed these events?
Contact us View upcoming events
Learn more about the company whose solutions have been applied to over 1,500 pipelines in more than 60 countries
Atmos International was originally founded in 1995 with a primary focus to detect pipeline leaks reliably on operational pipelines. Nothing has changed except advances in our technologies which continues to grow and adapt to the changes within the oil, gas, chemical, water, aviation and mining industries.