Pipeline Monitoring Systems

The management of pipelines presents challenges that are quite unique. Their long length, high value, high risk and often difficult access conditions, require continuous monitoring and an optimization of the maintenance interventions. The main concern for pipeline owners comes from possible leakages that can have a severe impact on the environment and put the pipeline out of service for repair. Leakages can have different causes, including excessive deformations caused by earthquakes, landslides or collisions with ship anchors, corrosion, wear, material flaws or third party intrusion.

Leakages can be detected and localized using distributed fiber optic temperature sensors. Fluid pipelines generate a hot-spot at the location of the leak, while gas pipelines generate a cold-spot due to the gas pressure relaxation. These localized thermal anomalies can be detected by a distributed measurement with good spatial, time and temperature resolution. Furthermore, it is often possible to detect damage before a critical state is reached. SMARTEC systems are ideally suited for these tasks. Measuring distributed strain it is possible to determine the increased stresses due to external actions such as landslides and earthquakes or to internal causes such as a reduction of cross-section due to corrosion and wear. Distributed temperature and strain monitoring can also detect third party intrusion before any damage is done to the pipeline.

The SMARTEC's Pipeline monitoring systems can be used for distributed measurements of both strain and temperature over extremely long distances, limiting the number of instruments that are necessary to monitor a long pipeline.

SMARTEC's pipeline monitoring systems are based on a combination of sensing cables, measurement instruments and data processing software. Different cables are available for temperature sensing (normal and high temperatures), strain sensing and combined strain and temperature sensing. The cables are designed to be installed on the pipeline surface or in its proximity. The different distributed sensing solutions can cover pipeline lengths from hundreds of meters to hundreds of kilometers. Specialized software packages are available for detecting leakages, intrusions and deformations from gas, fluids and multiphase pipelines, to display and publish the measurement results in a user-friendly interface and to generate warnings when abnormal conditions are detected.

Benefits of SMARTEC's Integrated Pipeline Monitoring Solutions

1 - Integrated Solutions
SMARTEC provides Integrated Monitoring Solutions for pipelines, based on advanced distributed fiber optic sensor cables, measurement instruments and software. We also integrate local corrosion sensors and other third party transducers for additional information in critical zones. All sensing technologies are seamlessly integrated into a single user interface.

2 - SHMLive
Through the SHMLive service, SMARTEC offers a comprehensive solution for pipeline monitoring. This includes the design of the system, its delivery and installation, maintenance and operation, web access to the data and data analysis by experienced engineering partners, all for a fixed monthly fee.

3 - State-of-the art system: Localize issues with meter accuracy and unparalleled sensitivity
SMARTEC’s distributed sensing technology allows owners to identify events such as leakages, intrusions and deformations with 1 meter accuracy, over the whole length of the pipeline. This allows targeted inspections and repairs when issues are discovered. Detecting leakages of 10 ml/min, strain of 0.02mm/m and temperature changes due to intrusions of 0.1°C is now possible. This enables early detection of problems, when it is still possible to correct them without major disruption to pipeline operation.

4 - Continuous monitoring 24/7, reduce down-time, prevent instead of curing
The system operates continuously and autonomously, to provide alerts as soon as an anomaly is detected. Thanks to the early detection of intrusion attempts, leakages and deformations, the pipeline owner can minimize the impact of these events by reacting immediately.

5 - Reduce economic, environmental, social and image liabilities
Leakages and intrusions can have consequences that go further than the mere loss of revenues form the pipeline operation. Investing in the prevention of such events helps the acceptance of new pipeline projects, reduces insurance costs and promotes the environmental consciousness of the pipeline owner and operator.

6 - Assessing pipeline safety immediately following a major event
Understand and assess possible damages and failures caused by extraordinary events such as earthquakes, 3rd party intrusion, explosions or floods. This ability allows responsible engineer or consultant to make a preliminary assessment of whether the safety of the pipeline has been seriously compromised.

7 - Proven track record
Pipeline monitoring systems have been installed and are in operation on several pipelines where the performance of the system can be verified.

8 - SMARTEC: your dependable partner for instrumentation project management
SMARTEC will support you in all phases of the project, from the system design, to installation, commissioning and training. Through our experience and commitment, we guarantee the satisfaction of your monitoring needs.
The Roctest group has been instrumenting critical structures, including dams and nuclear power plants, for more than 60 years. We will be here to support your project for at least the next 60. Our worldwide network of system integrators provides a competent local support for your project.
All our systems come with a 10 year warranty on the availability of spare parts.

Solutions

The following packages are the most widely used for Pipeline monitoring. However each projects has specific requirements and needs that can be addressed by a tailored system. SMARTEC has developed a 7-step methodology to design and implement a optimal SHM system for your pipeline.

Selected References

Ferrera-Bertonico oil pipeline - DiTemp (Italy, 2008 - 09)
Pra-Oil Leakage detection test (Italy, 2007)
Ammonia pipeline (Italy, 2005 - 06)
SNAM Rete Gas - Gas pipeline monitoring (Italy, 2003)
Berlin Brine Pipeline (Germany, 2002 - 05)

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