Pipeline Monitoring

PIPELINE INTEGRITY AND RIGHT-OF-WAY MONITORING

Continuous Visibility Across Critical Pipeline Routes

Pipelines cross long distances, remote terrain, environmentally sensitive areas and locations where access may be limited. Operators must monitor both pipeline condition and activity along the right-of-way.

Fiber optic pipeline monitoring combines Distributed Temperature Sensing (DTS) and Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS). DTS provides distributed temperature information along the sensing route, while DAS monitors vibration and acoustic activity near the pipeline.

Together, the technologies can support integrity monitoring, third-party interference detection and pipeline corridor security without relying only on isolated measurement points.

Pipeline Monitoring at a Glance

Technologies DTS and DAS on one sensing route

DTS Function Thermal anomaly and integrity monitoring

DAS Function Third-party interference detection

Sensing Element Passive fiber optic cable

Integration SCADA, GIS and pipeline platforms

DAS and DTS pipeline monitoring diagram — DTS and DAS controllers with a passive fiber optic sensing route along the pipeline corridor.

01

Integrity and Operational Risks

Product release, unexpected heating or cooling, insulation problems, thermal anomalies and abnormal operating conditions.

02

Right-of-Way and Security Risks

Unauthorized excavation, drilling, vehicle activity, encroachment, illegal tapping, vandalism and physical interference.

COMPLEMENTARY SENSING TECHNOLOGIES

How DTS and DAS Monitor Pipelines

DTS and DAS use optical fiber as a distributed sensing medium, but they respond to different physical phenomena.

DTS

Distributed Temperature Sensing

Thermal and integrity monitoring

DTS uses optical fiber as a distributed temperature sensor. The interrogator analyzes Raman backscatter to calculate temperature at defined positions along the sensing cable.

DTS can support identification of:

Localized temperature changes
Unexpected heat loss or heat gain
Hot and cold spots
Insulation-related anomalies
Changes from established thermal conditions
Leak-related patterns where sufficient thermal contrast develops

DAS

Distributed Acoustic Sensing

Security and activity monitoring

DAS uses optical fiber as a distributed vibration and acoustic sensor. The interrogator analyzes coherent Rayleigh backscatter to detect dynamic strain changes along the sensing route.

DAS can support detection of:

Mechanical excavation
Trenching and drilling
Vehicle activity
Foot traffic near the right-of-way
Construction encroachment
Ground disturbance and physical interference

Cutaway view of DAS and DTS monitoring along a buried pipeline — Temperature and vibration information measured along the same fiber optic sensing route.

Leak detectability depends on the application A product release does not create the same thermal response in every pipeline. Detectability depends on product properties, pressure and flow conditions, soil characteristics, burial depth, ambient temperature, cable placement and thermal coupling. DTS provides the greatest value where the expected event creates a measurable temperature change around the pipeline or sensing cable.

THIRD-PARTY INTERFERENCE

Monitoring Activity Along the Pipeline Corridor

DAS provides a distributed monitoring layer for vibration and acoustic activity generated close to the pipeline route.

Depending on cable installation, site conditions and analytics configuration, event information can help operators identify the affected location and decide whether investigation is required.

Excavation and digging
Drilling near the route
Vehicle movement
Construction encroachment
Unauthorized access
Tampering and ground disturbance

DAS pipeline threat detection and third party interference — Third-party activity detected and localized along the pipeline right-of-way.

01

Event Classification

Detected vibration signatures can be assigned to configured event categories to support operator assessment and alarm management.

02

Application-Specific Performance

Classification performance depends on cable installation, acoustic coupling, environmental conditions, event signatures and system configuration.

Pipeline monitoring event classification

PIPELINE APPLICATIONS

DTS and DAS Across Pipeline Infrastructure

Monitoring roles vary according to the transported medium, operating conditions, installation environment and expected event mechanisms.

Pipeline Application	DTS Monitoring Role	DAS Monitoring Role
Gas Pipelines	Cooling or other thermal anomalies under suitable operating conditions	Excavation, drilling, vehicle activity and corridor interference
Liquid Hydrocarbon Pipelines	Leak-related temperature changes where thermal contrast develops	Third-party interference and right-of-way activity
Water and Wastewater Networks	Relevant thermal or operating anomalies	Excavation, construction and external activity
Chemical and Ammonia Pipelines	Thermal changes associated with product release or abnormal operation where measurable contrast develops	Corridor security and physical interference
District Heating and Cooling	Heat loss, insulation performance, hot spots and leak-related anomalies	Excavation and construction activity near the route

Gas transmission lines, liquid hydrocarbon pipelines, water mains and district heating networks produce different thermal and acoustic responses. Alarm logic and sensing cable placement must reflect the specific asset.

DEPLOYMENT AND SYSTEM DESIGN

Cable Placement Based on the Monitoring Objective

The sensing cable may be installed alongside the pipeline, integrated with supporting infrastructure or routed along the right-of-way.

Applications can include buried pipelines, above-ground sections, cross-country transmission lines, gathering networks, pumping stations and block valve sites.

Pipeline-to-Cable Distance Influences the response transferred to the sensing cable.

Thermal and Acoustic Coupling Must reflect the intended DTS and DAS functions.

Soil and Burial Conditions Affect both temperature transfer and vibration response.

Cable Construction Requires suitable mechanical and environmental protection.

Alarm Zoning Should correspond to practical investigation and response areas.

Redundancy and Communications Depend on the criticality and architecture of the project.

BEYOND OIL AND GAS

Monitoring Wider Pipeline and Utility Networks

Distributed fiber optic sensing can also support water and wastewater networks, chemical pipelines, district heating and cooling systems, irrigation routes and multi-utility corridors.

Each network requires a monitoring strategy based on operating temperature, transported medium, credible failure mechanisms, installation conditions and response requirements.

Water and Wastewater Chemical Pipelines District Heating District Cooling Irrigation Networks Utility Corridors

SYSTEM INTEGRATION

Connecting Distributed Sensing with Pipeline Operations

FOTAS solutions can interface with SCADA, GIS, pipeline management systems, leak detection platforms, security monitoring systems and alarm management software.

The sensing system provides temperature, event and location information. Operational decisions and automated actions remain part of the approved project architecture and operating procedures.

Buried oil and gas pipeline monitored with fiber optic sensing

DETECT → LOCALIZE → CLASSIFY → NOTIFY → INVESTIGATE → RESPOND

FOTAS PIPELINE MONITORING

Complementary Temperature and Acoustic Sensing

FOTAS combines DTS and DAS capabilities for pipeline integrity monitoring and right-of-way security. DTS provides distributed temperature information for relevant thermal anomalies and operating conditions. DAS provides vibration and acoustic event monitoring for third-party interference and external activity.

Distributed Temperature Monitoring

Continuous thermal information along the installed sensing route rather than isolated measurement points.

Right-of-Way Activity Monitoring

Distributed vibration and acoustic monitoring across the pipeline corridor.

Event and Alarm Localization

Identify the affected position along the route to support targeted investigation.

Passive Fiber Optic Sensing Route

The sensing cable requires no electrical power along the monitored pipeline.

Pipeline Platform Integration

Connect measurement and event information to SCADA, GIS and pipeline management platforms.

Application-Specific System Design

Configuration based on pipeline type, risk environment and verified project requirements.

The final configuration should be based on pipeline type, risk environment, sensing cable installation, required interfaces and verified product performance.