Long-range pipeline monitoring by distributed fiber optic sensing

Daniele Inaudi, Branko Glisic

Research output: Contribution to conferencePaperpeer-review

16 Scopus citations

Abstract

Distributed fiber optic sensing presents unique features that have no match in conventional sensing techniques. The ability to measure temperatures and strain at thousands of points along a single fiber is particularly interesting for the monitoring of elongated structures such as pipelines, flow lines, oil wells and coiled tubing. Sensing systems based on Brillouin and Raman scattering are used for example to detect pipeline leakages, verify pipeline operational parameters, prevent failure of pipelines installed in landslide areas, optimize oil production from wells and detect hot-spots in high-power cables. Recent developments in distributed fiber sensing technology allow the monitoring of 60 km of pipeline from a single instrument and of up to 300 km with the use of optical amplifiers. New application opportunities have demonstrated that the design and production of sensing cables is a critical element for the success of any distributed sensing instrumentation project. Although some telecommunication cables can be effectively used for sensing ordinary temperatures, monitoring high and low temperatures or distributed strain present unique challenges that require specific cable designs. This contribution presents advances in long-range distributed sensing and in novel sensing cable designs for distributed temperature and strain sensing. The paper also reports a number of significant field application examples of this technology, including leakage detection on brine and gas pipelines, strain monitoring on gas pipelines and combined strain and temperature monitoring on composite flow lines and composite coiled-tubing pipes.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages763-772
Number of pages10
DOIs
StatePublished - 2007
Externally publishedYes
Event2006 6th International Pipeline Conference, IPC 2006 - Calgary, AB, Canada
Duration: Sep 25 2006Sep 29 2006

Other

Other2006 6th International Pipeline Conference, IPC 2006
Country/TerritoryCanada
CityCalgary, AB
Period9/25/069/29/06

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • General Engineering

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