Open Access

In the presented work, the potential of fiber-optic distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) for detection of small gas pipeline leaks (<1%) is investigated. Helical wrapping of the sensing fiber directly around the pipeline is used to increase the system sensitivity for detection of weak leak-induced vibrations. DAS measurements are supplemented with reference accelerometer data to facilitate analysis and interpretation of recorded vibration signals. The results reveal that a DAS system using direct fiber application approach is capable of detecting pipeline natural vibrations excited by the broadband noise generated by the leaking medium. In the performed experiment, pipeline vibration modes with acceleration magnitudes down to single ug were detected. Simple leak detection approach based on spectral integration of time-averaged DAS signals in frequency domain was proposed. Potential benefits and limitations of the presented monitoring Approach were discussed with respect to its practical applicability. We demonstrated that the approached is potentially capable of detection and localization of gas pipeline leaks with leak rates down to 0.1% of the pipeline flow volume and might be of interest for monitoring of short- and medium-length gas pipelines.

The monitoring of oil and gas pipelines by means of distributed fibre optic sensors is becoming common. The most recent development in the field of fibre optic sensing is the distributed acoustic sensing (DAS), which allows to detect and to localize third party threats to pipelines. For this purpose, fibre optic telecommunication cables located close to the pipelines are usually used. However, DAS carries a far greater potential for continuous condition monitoring of pipelines. The interdisciplinary research project AGIFAMOR (Ageing Infrastructures – Fibre Optic Monitoring of Pipes) at BAM investigates a new technical approach to extend the application field of DAS towards the detection and localization of acoustic signals that indicate critical alterations and certain damage scenarios originated from within the pipeline or the pipe wall. Therefore, the optical fibre sensors are applied onto the pipe itself and the application procedure towards an optimal acoustic signal transduction is optimized. A number of laboratory scale experiments were performed focusing on the signal transmission of acoustic signals as well as the detection of damages in the pipe wall by means of DAS. Furthermore, real-scale tests on a pipeline DN100 of 38m length have been carried out at the BAM test site for technical safety (BAM-TTS) to study the detection and localization of leaks and of changing flow profiles due to corrosion or sedimentation processes.