Numerical and experimental modeling of two leaks behavior for water-air multiphase flow through a pipeline

Given that most petroleum companies simultaneously produce and transport both oil and gas, multiphase flows play a crucial role in the oil and gas industry. Common causes of pipeline leaks include corrosion, aging, and metal deterioration. When an incident occurs, the energy company not only incurs financial losses but also triggers safety and environmental concerns. Consequently, the development of a practical technique for simultaneously detecting leaks in pipelines becomes imperative. In the present study, a 3D numerical model is developed using Ansys-Fluent to investigate simultaneous leaks (the first leak measuring 3 mm and the second leak measuring 1.8 mm) within a pipeline. The numerical results are validated against experimental data collected from a flow loop system in the laboratory. Furthermore, the flow behavior in the pipeline and the surrounding area of the leaks is evaluated. For example, it is observed that the escape velocity of the gas phase through the leaks initially decreases significantly before gradually reaching a stable value.