Gas pipeline leak noise measurements using optical fibre distributed acoustic sensing

Abstract

Leakage from pipes is a major issue in both the oil and gas sectors, not only in environmental and economic terms, because of wasting important natural resources, but importantly from a safety perspective. Optical fibre technology offers the possibility of continuous acoustic monitoring of pipelines and remote detection of leaks. In this paper we present results from gas leak measurements made on a specially designed, buried pipeline test rig, for which leak energy radiated directly from the leak (orifice noise) dominates over energy radiated from the pipe wall. Measurements of the orifice noise are made using an optical fibre distributed acoustic sensing system as well as conventional geophones. Both the geophones and the optical fibres are shown to be able to detect the orifice noise, particularly when the fibres were located close to the pipeline. Fibre measurements are found to be limited by both high background noise and by gauge length, which limited the upper frequency limit for accurately determining the phase of the ground response. The measurements indicate that the orifice noise sets up Rayleigh waves in the ground, largely contained in frequencies below 100Hz, the magnitude of which are found to be compatible with predictions from idealised jet theory.The effect of fibre ducting and armouring is also evaluated.

Acoustic Optical Fiber Sensor Based on Graphene Oxide Membrane

“…Fiber optic acoustic sensors have been extensively investigated for different applications due to the small size, immunity to electromagnetic interference, and resistance to harsh environments provided by optical fiber. Acoustic sensors are an essential element with a wide range of applications in geophysics for seismic event detection [ 1 , 2 ], or for petroleum exploration [ 3 ] and in pipeline leakage [ 4 ]. This sensors also play an important role in underwater acoustic sensing [ 5 ], with applications in the military field [ 6 ], for example, in biomedical applications [ 7 , 8 , 9 ], and in structural health monitoring [ 10 , 11 , 12 ].…”

Numerical Modelling of a Distributed Acoustic Sensor Based on Ultra-Low Loss-Enhanced Backscattering Fibers

“…Distributed optical fiber acoustic sensors (DASs), also known as distributed vibration sensors (DVSs), have found a wide range of applications in areas that require vibration and tremor (e.g., earthquakes) monitoring along extended structures such as railways, highways, sub-sea cables, and pipelines [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 ].…”

Application of a noise reduction method combining AVMD and SVD in natural gas pipeline leakage signal

“…Pipeline is the main mode of transportation for large quantities of natural gas. For long-distance transportation, the pipeline is very cost-effective because it has the advantages of low cost, safety and so on (Muggleton et al, 2020). However, pipeline leakage occurs frequently because of aging, corrosion, and other forms of damage, which poses a great threat to the safe transportation of pipelines (Zhang et al, 2014).…”

“…In view of the above facts, accurate detection and early warning of leakage pipelines are very necessary and significant (Liu et al, 2017). The main methods to solve pipeline leakage include: acoustic wave method (Xiao et al, 2019), negative pressure wave detection method (Li, Zheng, et al, 2019), transient model method (Murvay & Silea, 2012), distributed optical fibre method (Muggleton et al, 2020). Considering that the acoustic method has higher sensitivity and stronger adaptability than traditional methods, a lot of research on it have been conducted by experts and scholars.…”