Timely detection of unintended pipeline product releases is an important component of pipeline environmental compliance and integrity management programs. The magnitude of unintended releases
will vary from a rupture that generates extremely high volume releases, to corrosion pits that produce a very low, but constant, daily loss of product. This paper compares the technologies, equipment and operations required to monitor a cross-country pipeline transporting liquid products for the wide range of unintended releases that can occur. It also provides an evaluation of the various technologies' ability to minimize the impact of releases and compares leak detection system performance characteristics.