Fiber optic technology can be leveraged to measure strain, vibration, noise and temperature on pipeline systems. Such technology can enable pipeline operators to identify nearby excavations and intervene before third party damage occurs. Acoustic and temperature sensors can quickly identify leaks and strain sensors can identify areas of pipe movement.

Transmission pipelines that travel through areas of dense population or areas in development can be at a higher risk for third party damage. The most well-known fiber optic installation method is to perform an external installation, which is typically only economical at the time of construction. The opportunity to use fiber optic technology through retrofit on existing pipelines utilizing internal deployment, if successful, would allow significantly wider use of the technology due to the reduced cost.

TransGas Limited has a 1.5 km long NPS 6 sweet natural gas transmission line that travels through the city of Humboldt, Saskatchewan, Canada. A portion of the gas line, totaling 800 m, travels through an area that is under development for businesses and housing. The purpose of this study was to develop and demonstrate a feasible method for installing fiber optics inside of an existing gas line as a proof of concept and to control for the risk of third party damage. In this study, fiber optic sensors were preloaded into steel capillary tubing and coupled to a shear pin disconnect system. The shear pin disconnect system was attached to the back of a pig to carry the fiber optics through the gas line. Nitrogen was used as a gaseous medium and a pack-off was installed at the pig launch location to allow the gas line to maintain pressure during and after the fiber optic installation. The pig travelled through the pipeline to the desired monitoring distance of 800 m and the shear pin disconnect system was engaged. The pig travelled to the receive location and the fiber optics remained in the pipeline for continuous monitoring of third party interference.


Third Party Damage Monitoring: Internal Fiber Optic Installation on a Transmission Pipeline Using a Pig, a Disengagement System and a Pack-Off

Division / Sponsors: 
Pipeline Systems Division

Paper Proceedings: https://asmedigitalcollection.asme.org/IPC/IPC2020/volume/84447

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