Four models of a pipeline are compared in the paper: a nonlinear distributed-parameter model, a linear distributed-parameter model, a simplified lumped-parameter model and an extended neural-net-based model. The transcendental transfer function of the linearized model is obtained by a Laplace transformation and corresponding initial and boundary conditions. The lumped-parameter model is obtained by a Taylor series extension of the transencdental transfer function. Based on the experience of linear models the structure of the neural net model, as an addendum to the nonlinear distributed-parameter model, is obtained. All four models are tested on a real pipeline data with an artificially generated leak.