Leakage position of pipeline on the underground diffusion of crude oil

Abstract

Although underground pipeline transportation of crude oil is critical, very few studies have been found in the literature addressing the effects of the pipeline leakage position. To fill the gap, in this study, the influences of the leakage position of a pipeline on the underground diffusion of crude oil were investigated numerically. The results showed that the leakage position largely affects the shape of crude oil diffusion. The diffusion contour of the crude oil changes from shapes of inverted U and ellipse to circle when the leakage positions are located at the top, side and bottom sections of the pipeline. It was known based on numerical results that the leakage position shows limited influence on axial diffusion width and radial diffusion depth of crude oil. Empirical relationships were developed to predict the axis diffusion width and radial diffusion depth. The outcomes of this study provide a technical guidance for the underground pipeline transportation safety and the related emergency management.