I'm being asked to check out a run of some 15 miles of supposedly disused oil pipeline partly to determine if someone is using the pipe without permission.
My question - can you ordinarily tell if there is flow in a pipeline by feel or sound? Or is there some device you could attach? A stethoscope has been suggested. In ordinary operation is the flow constant?
There are rather simple flow detectors that are based on sound. Water suppliers use these commonly to assist in findng leaks. They look a lot like metal detectors with earphone attachments.
Your function should only be to locate the record location of the pipes. What is going on with them is a very different matter.
> There are rather simple flow detectors that are based on sound. Water suppliers use these commonly to assist in findng leaks. They look a lot like metal detectors with earphone attachments.
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> Your function should only be to locate the record location of the pipes. What is going on with them is a very different matter.
Many years ago staked oil/gas well locations in Ohio. Pipelines here were constructed using blanket or fixed width "as constructed by agreement with property owner" easements. I would limit any surveying services to visible location of as built lines and establishing which surface owners the lines crossed. This should be enough to relate the physical line to the recorded easement.
Around here determination of use of the pipeline would require a line maintenance crew and continuous monitoring and recording. Wells are pumped at intervals and lines may be unused for long periods.
In order to have flow in a petroleum pipeline you need pressure; to obtain pressure you need a pumping station. The product would have to come from somewhere and go somewhere. I believe your client needs to look for the source of the pumping. You could help by following the pipeline using a locator and looking for possible connection points.
Around here, oil, or liquid product creates friction inside the pipe, warming the surrounding soil, and melting the snow cover. Not sure where you are, but maybe a quick option. I have used that method for quick and dirty pipe location before.
You could always check for condensation on the outside of the pipe or a temperature difference from ambient, just an indicator.
As a kid I once unscrewed a plug in an exposed metal pipe to see if there was anything in there. Turned out there was, water at about 10 jillion psi. Shot that plug hundreds feet into the air and created quite the water spout. Moral of story is be real careful with old pipes. Theres just no telling.
that would be awesome, unless you shot your face up with the cap.
