IoT-Integrated Pressure Pulse Analysis for Flow Assurance and Reliability in Subsea Pipeline Systems

Abstract

Traditional subsea control systems face critical limitations in maintaining flow assurance and operational reliability, especially under the harsh and dynamic conditions of deepwater environments. These limitations include delayed detection of anomalies, lack of real-time monitoring, and inadequate responsiveness to complex multiphase flow behaviors. This study aims to critically assess the limitations of existing subsea control systems in managing flow assurance and ensuring reliability under dynamic deepwater operating conditions. A comparative and analytical research design was employed. A prototype pipeline system was developed using a 3D model embedded with IoT sensors to capture real-time data on pressure, temperature, and flow rate. These data were analyzed through multiphase flow simulation and pressure pulse propagation methods. Additionally, the optimal pipeline diameter was calculated using the Darcy-Weisbach and Colebrook-White equations to reduce pressure loss and enhance efficiency. Results indicated that the system could detect the onset and progression of leaks based on pressure pulse arrival times and amplitude variations. Real-time monitoring through wireless communication and heatmap visualization enabled the timely detection of leakage events, thus validating the system’s effectiveness in addressing the challenges of traditional systems. In conclusion, the study presents a low-cost, scalable, and responsive solution that significantly improves flow assurance and reliability in subsea pipelines. It is recommended that operators adopt IoT-enabled monitoring with pressure pulse analysis to enhance early fault detection and overall pipeline performance.