pipeline pressure test
pipeline pressure test
(OP)
What formula do people use to determine the volume of fluid (of a known compressibility) that is needed to bring a pipeline to a specific pressure for pressure test purposes?
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RE: pipeline pressure test
If there is a defect in the pipeline (and if that wasn't a possibility you wouldn't have to test it) using an incompresible fluid like water will cause a much smaller crater/explosion than if you use a gas.
If I've misunderstood the situation, the mass of gas required is derived by using density = (MW * Pressure)/(z * R * T), then multiply by the pipeline volume.
Happy Testing
RE: pipeline pressure test
16^2*6.5 = 1664 bbls = 70,000 gal
When I first heard of this rule I was skeptical so I went through a rigerous volume calculation and got about 6% less than the rule. When you add in requirements for irreducible tanker-truck volume and spillage, you get really close to ID^2/1000 ft.
We've had many (heated) discussions on eng-tips.com about using gases for static tests. The bottom line for me is that if you do your job properly then both ASME B31.3 and ASME B31.8 allow the use of gases for testing and they allow air tests in certain conditions up to hoop stresses that are 75% of SMYS.
Environmental concerns over hydrostatic-test-water disposal, difficulty in dewatering lines, and weight considerations have all caused me to preferentially perform gas tests in nearly every case (50+ gas tests over the last 15 years).
David Simpson, PE
MuleShoe Engineering
www.muleshoe-eng.com
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