Experimental Investigation on Near-Field Acoustic Propagation Characteristics of Leakage Detection in Submarine Pipelines

The leakage of subsea oil and gas pipelines can have adverse impacts on production progress and the ecological environment. Investigating the sound source and near-field sound propagation of pipeline leaks is essential for understanding the acoustic characteristics of and variations in these leaks. Such understanding is significant for the accurate detection and location of small leaks in pipelines. In this study, we designed an experimental system to study the characteristics of leakage sound signals. We introduced the formation mechanism of leakage sound sources and reviewed corresponding theoretical research. The leakage sound signal’s characteristic frequency range was determined to be between 1 kHz and 2 kHz. We examined the effects of pipeline pressure, leakage aperture, and detection distance on the acoustic signal characteristics. The results show that as internal pipe pressure increases, the leakage sound signal intensity first increases and then decreases. As the leakage aperture increases, the intensity of the leakage sound signal increases. Within a short distance, the intensity remains consistent regardless of detection distance. The results of this experimental study can guide the acoustic internal detection of pipelines. This study has practical significance in the timely detection of small leaks in pipelines and preventing leakage accidents from occurring.