(74d) A Data-Driven Approach Based on Lab-Scale Experimental Data to Characterize Gas-Solid Interactions in Buried Pipeline Releases

Accurate characterization of gas-solid interactions during gas releases from buried pipelines is critical for effective risk assessment. These interactions have been proven to influence gas dispersion, with studies often focusing on specific scenarios: low flow rates, where gas migrates through soil pores, and high flow rates, where craters may form. However, the impact of dynamic gas-solid interactions across a wider range of conditions remains underexplored. This study proposes a bench-scale experimental setup to capture soil behavior during gas releases using a tomographic mapping technique. The transient soil concentration profiles obtained are processed using a data-driven approach to identify key features that differentiate underground gas release regimes. The observations span a wide spectrum of phenomena, including gas migration, crater formation, and intermediate states characterized by bubbling behavior. The developed tool is designed to bridge experimental observations and numerical simulations, supporting results validation. The acquired knowledge allows correlating the release conditions with the evaluated underground gas flow regime to the release rate. These insights clarify the behavior of gas leaks under varying conditions and offer valuable guidance for developing effective response strategies.