Fiber Optic Liquid Leakage Detection

Abstract

Abstract Fiber Optic Liquid Leakage Detection (FOLLD) project has permitted of assessing on the DTS (Distributed Temperature Sensing), the DSTS (Distributed Strain and temperature Sensing) and the DAS (Distributed Acoustic Sensing) capabilities, combined with a Standard Telecom Fiber Optic Cable (FOC), for detecting small pressurized (20 barg) and pre-heated (50 °C) liquid (water) leakages on a buried dummy pipeline. DTS/DSTS real time results demonstrated that the soil disruption, the soil and external environmental temperature variation had an influence on leakage detection results robustness. Consequently, only the first three (3) trials out of the ten (10) trials provide some comprehensive results. Real time results shown that two (2) out of three (3) DSTS devices were able to detect a leakage up to twenty (20) km with a detection success rate of 67% in the position P1 or P2 or P3. One (1) out of two (2) DTS device detects up to twenty (20) km with a detection success rate that depends on the fiber optic position (67% for P2 or P3 and 33% for P1). Only one (1) DSTS shows a detection success rate up to fourty (40) km with a detection success rate of 67% in the position P1 or P2 or P3. DTS/DSTS real time results highlight that 100% successful detection rate can be reached up to twenty (20) km with several fiber optic cables in the position: P1/P2 or P1/P3 or P1/P2/P3. For DAS systems, the real time results shown that it was not possible to distinguish a leakage "noise" from other surrounding noise. This was especially due to the water pump noise, which was always occurring simultaneously with the leakage. Only a post processing treatment provide the leakage detection using a DAS technology. Post treatment DTS/DSTS and DAS detection success rate are better than the real time results. This highlight the potential of both technologies. All DTS/DSTS and DAS testing results demonstrated that the detection success rate are Supplier's dependent.