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Applied Sciences
Volume 16
Issue 10
10.3390/app16104731
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This is an early access version, the complete PDF, HTML, and XML versions will be available soon.
Article

Numerical Investigation on Natural Gas Leakage and Diffusion from Buried Pipelines in Soil: Effects of Pipeline Parameters and Leakage Hole Characteristics

by
Ting Pan
1,
Xingyu Wang
2,
Fei Li
3,
Zhipeng Yu
2,*,
Kai Liu
2,
Zhenglong Li
1,
Zhanghua Yin
1,
Siyan Hong
2 and
Bingyuan Hong
1,2,4,5,*
1
China Petroleum Pipeline Research Institute Co., Ltd., Langfang 065000, China
2
National & Local Joint Engineering Research Center of Harbor Oil & Gas Storage and Transportation Technology, Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Pollution Control for Port-Petrochemical Industry, Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Petrochemical Environmental Pollution Control, School of Petrochemical Engineering & Environment, Zhejiang Ocean University, Zhoushan 316022, China
3
Zhejiang Quzhou Petroleum Branch, Sinopec Sales Co., Ltd., Quzhou 324000, China
4
Industrial Technology Research Institute, Chongqing University, Chongqing 401300, China
5
College of Safety and Ocean Engineering, China University of Petroleum-Beijing, Beijing 102249, China
*
Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Appl. Sci. 2026, 16(10), 4731; https://doi.org/10.3390/app16104731 (registering DOI)
Submission received: 8 April 2026 / Revised: 4 May 2026 / Accepted: 7 May 2026 / Published: 10 May 2026
Versions Notes

Abstract

Understanding the law of gas diffusion in soil is essential for pipeline risk assessment. A 3D CFD model of natural gas leakage and diffusion from buried pipelines was developed in Ansys Fluent using the Detached Eddy Simulation turbulence model, with soil as an isotropic porous medium. Six parameters—burial depth, pipe diameter, transportation pressure, leak hole diameter, hole shape, and hole orientation—were systematically investigated under an identical numerical framework. First Danger Time (FDT), Farthest Danger Range (FDR), and Ground Danger Range (GDR) were used as unified hazard metrics for quantitative cross-factor comparison. As burial depth increases, FDT and FDR increase monotonically, whereas GDR peaks at 2.0 m. Increasing pipe diameter reduces FDT, FDR, and GDR. Higher pipeline pressure shortens FDT and expands FDR and GDR. Leak hole diameter dominates: increasing from 5 to 200 mm reduces FDT to nearly zero. For equal cross-sectional area, rectangular slits yield the highest mass flow rate and largest danger range, while triangular holes produce the shortest FDT owing to strong corner-induced turbulence. Upward leaks give the shortest FDT but smallest FDR; downward leaks produce the largest FDR; side leaks cause the longest FDT but largest GDR. Factor influence ranking by FDT and FDR change is: leak hole diameter, burial depth, pipeline pressure, hole orientation, pipe diameter, and hole shape. These results provide a quantitative framework for hazard assessment, sensor layout optimization, and emergency-response prioritization in buried natural gas pipelines.
Keywords: buried natural gas pipeline; leakage and diffusion; numerical simulation; pipeline parameter; leakage hole characteristic; hazard assessment buried natural gas pipeline; leakage and diffusion; numerical simulation; pipeline parameter; leakage hole characteristic; hazard assessment

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MDPI and ACS Style

Pan, T.; Wang, X.; Li, F.; Yu, Z.; Liu, K.; Li, Z.; Yin, Z.; Hong, S.; Hong, B. Numerical Investigation on Natural Gas Leakage and Diffusion from Buried Pipelines in Soil: Effects of Pipeline Parameters and Leakage Hole Characteristics. Appl. Sci. 2026, 16, 4731. https://doi.org/10.3390/app16104731

AMA Style

Pan T, Wang X, Li F, Yu Z, Liu K, Li Z, Yin Z, Hong S, Hong B. Numerical Investigation on Natural Gas Leakage and Diffusion from Buried Pipelines in Soil: Effects of Pipeline Parameters and Leakage Hole Characteristics. Applied Sciences. 2026; 16(10):4731. https://doi.org/10.3390/app16104731

Chicago/Turabian Style

Pan, Ting, Xingyu Wang, Fei Li, Zhipeng Yu, Kai Liu, Zhenglong Li, Zhanghua Yin, Siyan Hong, and Bingyuan Hong. 2026. "Numerical Investigation on Natural Gas Leakage and Diffusion from Buried Pipelines in Soil: Effects of Pipeline Parameters and Leakage Hole Characteristics" Applied Sciences 16, no. 10: 4731. https://doi.org/10.3390/app16104731

APA Style

Pan, T., Wang, X., Li, F., Yu, Z., Liu, K., Li, Z., Yin, Z., Hong, S., & Hong, B. (2026). Numerical Investigation on Natural Gas Leakage and Diffusion from Buried Pipelines in Soil: Effects of Pipeline Parameters and Leakage Hole Characteristics. Applied Sciences, 16(10), 4731. https://doi.org/10.3390/app16104731

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