A wireless sensor network (WSN) includes a sensor node cluster having a plurality of sensor nodes positioned along a section of a pipeline; a base station; a designated cluster head for the sensor node cluster, the designated cluster head configured to forward sensor data packets towards the base station; and a server having circuitry. The circuitry is configured to determine when the designated cluster head has a battery energy level below a predetermined level, elect a replacement cluster head for the designated cluster head when the battery energy level is below the predetermined level, and forward an energy status of the designated cluster head to the replacement cluster head.