AI-Based Adaptive Digital Twin Framework for Real-Time Leak Detection and Localization in Offshore Gas Pipelines

Digital twins are transforming the digitalization and automation of offshore gas pipeline systems by enabling realtime monitoring, predictive maintenance, and operational efficiency. This study introduces a novel adaptive digital twin framework designed for leak detection and localization in offshore gas pipelines. The framework integrates OLGA-generated synthetic data, validated experimental results, and advanced machine learning (ML) techniques, including transfer learning and ensemble models. The proposed framework achieves a classification accuracy of 98.2% for leak detection, with a mean absolute error (MAE) of 0.11 cm for leak size prediction and a mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) of 3.8% for leak localization. A core innovation of this framework is the calibration methodology, which recalibrates dimensionless nomographs and leak detection correlations for seamless adaptation to new pipeline geometries and operating conditions. Through systematic steps, the calibrated correlations predict leak size and location with high accuracy, leveraging pressure drop and mass flow difference data. Additionally, ML-driven models enable efficient generation of new nomographs for pipelines with varying configurations, enhancing scalability and reducing computational effort. The real-time implementation enables predictions with a latency of less than 2 seconds, significantly outperforming conventional methods in speed and accuracy. Also, the framework’s adaptability, supported by its digital twin visualization and real-time feedback mechanisms, significantly improves pipeline integrity management, operational safety, and environmental protection. The study demonstrates the framework’s robustness in handling complex flow dynamics and offers a scalable solution to enhance the digital transformation of offshore oil and gas operations.