Enhancing Pipeline Safety and Efficiency with Distributed Fiber Optic Sensing

As infrastructure ages and the country grows, ensuring the integrity of pipelines becomes increasingly critical. Pipelines of all kinds transporting petroleum, natural gas, water, and sewage are vital to daily life, yet they face threats from corrosion, environmental stress, unauthorized excavations, and natural disasters. Given the scale, complexity, and importance of these systems, utilities are constantly looking for new technologies and improved systems that provide real-time awareness and early detection.

This post explores how Distributed Fiber Optic Sensing can help protect and monitor different types of pipelines in real time to enhance security, reliability, and efficiency. 

Distributed Fiber Optic Sensing, or DFOS, is the concept of using existing fiber optic cables as continuous sensors, capable of detecting and pinpointing changes in the environment. Regular fiber optics for telecommunications uses light signals sent through a fiber made from silica to send and receive huge amounts of data at nearly the speed of light. In DFOS, even a single unused fiber within a bundle can be used instead to measure the backscattering of light to identify variations in temperature, strain, or vibration.

Fiber optic sensors have been demonstrated as effective in dozens of applications, including grid monitoring, earthquake detection, border security, structural health monitoring, and more. Often fiber optic cables are placed along utility corridors, making them ideal places to monitor other utilities and areas to protect. 

Existing pipeline monitoring systems usually use point sensors, which measure pressure, temperature, and other variables at set points along the line. In contrast, DFOS systems are continuous and can identify and localize anomalies with high precision over the entire distance of a pipeline. Fiber optic cables are often already installed underground in utility corridors or on utility poles often co-located with distribution pipelines. DFOS has already shown promise in protecting pipelines of all types. 

Multi-Use Applications

Many existing distribution pipelines exist along underground utility corridors, often alongside existing fiber optic lines. Unused dark fibers can easily be repurposed into fiber optic sensors, with virtually no new infrastructure. DFOS can monitor water distribution and sewage systems for leaks, blockages, and structural degradation. By detecting changes in temperature and strain, DFOS helps utilities address issues proactively, reducing water loss and preventing sewage overflows. 

Beyond distribution pipelines, there has been a lot of attention about using DFOS to monitor natural gas and hazardous pipelines, which can have more severe consequences in cases of damage or accidents. DFOS can detect minute leaks and structural changes in oil and gas pipelines, allowing for early intervention before minor issues escalate into major incidents. The technology’s sensitivity enables the identification of small leaks that traditional sensors might miss, enhancing environmental protection and operational safety. This sensitivity also allows fiber optics to be used for structural health monitoring and can enable predictive maintenance for pipelines.

Other than detecting leaks and ensuring reliability, DFOS can be used to protect pipelines from external damage. Fiber optic sensors can detect movement of people, heavy vehicles, and even earthquakes. DFOS sensors can detect nearby excavations, which can prevent accidental damages to pipelines and other utilities. The Texas 811 one-call center has already utilized fiber optic sensors in damage prevention by using them to detect excavations and check the location against a list of approved and ticketed excavation projects. If the excavation is authorized and utility markings have been provided, the alert is dismissed and the excavation proceeds. However, if the excavation is unauthorized or has not received markings, the one-call notifies affected utility operators who can send out a team to prevent the excavation before damage occurs. 

Challenges and Considerations

While DFOS offers significant benefits, its implementation requires careful planning. Industries and utilities everywhere use Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems to maintain safety and monitor conditions of manufacturing processes, water treatment, energy management, and more. Fiber optic sensors will need to be carefully integrated into pipeline SCADA systems to manage safety most effectively. 

The largest challenge of using DFOS for pipeline monitoring and management is the required presence of fiber optic cables along the pipeline route. There are millions of fiber miles in the U.S., many of which exist alongside other utilities like pipelines, but there is far from universal coverage. For larger pipelines, utilizing fiber optic sensors may mean a custom installation. Dedicated fiber optic sensors are a proven and effective solution for pipeline monitoring, but it does require significant infrastructure investment. 

Further research is needed to refine and expand the capabilities of DFOS in utility monitoring. Dedicated sensors have already proven to be effective safety and security assets for pipelines, but using distributed fiber optics is a newer concept. Understanding the value of all available assets will be essential as infrastructure upgrades and expansions are planned and implemented across the country. 

If fully realized, Distributed Fiber Optic Sensing represents a significant advancement in pipeline monitoring and protection. By providing real-time, accurate data on pipeline conditions, DFOS enables proactive maintenance, enhances safety, and reduces public risks. Embracing DFOS technology is a strategic move toward modernizing infrastructure and ensuring the reliable delivery of essential resources.

Written by Owen Rogers, Public Policy Associate