Protect your pipeline with

Omnisens DITEST-AIM fiber

optic monitoring solution
APPLICATION NOTE

DITEST
PIPELINE INTEGRITY MONITORING SOLUTION
Leakage
Ground Movement
Intrusion
Benefits of pipeline INTEGRITY monitoring system
Pipelines are essential components of the energy supply
chain and the monitoring of their integrity has become a major
task of the pipeline management and control. Nowadays
pipelines are being laid over very long distances in remote
areas affected by landslides and harsh environmental
conditions where soil texture changes between winter and
summer increase the probability of hazards not to mention
the possibility of third party intrusion. It is widely recognized
that leakages from pipelines have huge environmental, cost
and image impacts.
Pipeline monitoring is often restricted to visual inspection and
mass/flow measurements leading to very limited capabilities
to detect and locate pipeline disturbance such as leakages
or ground movements. As a result, pipeline disturbances are
usually noticed only when the output flow is affected or when
they have severe effects on the surrounding environment
leading to inefficient and potentially costly situations.

REF: AN-PIM-ENG-01

The DITEST-AIM includes project dedicated and customized

graphical user interface with seamless pipeline condition
information (fully distributed monitoring with uninterrupted
monitoring) that helps the pipeline operators to make
executive decisions based on actual pipeline operational and
structural conditions.
Omnisens DITEST-AIM (Asset Integrity Monitoring) offers
comprehensive pipeline monitoring solutions for any type of
pipeline including ground movement, leakage and intrusion
detection over 100s of km.

DiTeSt pipeline monitoring

system

GEOTECHNICAL Movement - detection principle

The DITEST-AIM Solution feeds pipeline operator with

information about abnormal operational changes, occurrence
and localization of leakage and/or ground movements,
generating alarms and status reports. The monitoring is
guaranteed regardless of changes in pipeline operation.

The measuring technique for geotechnical movements

monitoring is based on the measurement of strain along
dedicated optical fiber cable. Any ground movement,
structure deformation or third party intrusion introduces local
strain in the cable and generates an event with information
about date/time and precise event localization.

DiTeSt measurement technique

DITEST - Distributed sensing is based on the analysis of
backscattered light emitted when a light pulse is transmitted
down an optical fiber. It uses the latest developments in
fiber optic distributed sensing giving unrivalled monitoring
performance and reliability. The measurement principle
is based on the analysis of stimulated Brillouin scattering
light and provides largest signal intensity and reliability of
operation. DITEST measurement technique uses proven
optoelectronic telecommunication components with
long lifetime expectancy and has been developed with
emphasis on measurement reliability, accuracy and system
robustness.

small displacement of 0.5m can be detected and

localized with meter accuracy anywhere along
the PIPELINE
The optical fiber cable high sensitivity to strain allows the
detection of small displacement of 0.5m which can be
localized with meter accuracy anywhere along the cable.
Longitudinal displacement due to ground movements along
the pipeline axis are also detected and localized with an even
higher sensitivity.
Geotechnical Cable - GTMS OFC

The GTMS Optical Fiber Cable (OFC) is a robust cable

dedicated for ground movement detection. It integrates
rodent protection and is suitable for direct burial. The cable
is designed for the detection of small ground movements of
about 0.5 m while maintaining an excellent robustness and
integration capacity. Mechanical and optical characteristics
of the cable are in compliance with IEC 794-1 Optical Fibre
Cables Specifications.

LEAKAGE DETECTION

Leakages can have various causes, including excessive

deformations caused by earthquakes, landslides, corrosion,
fatigue, material flaws or even intentional damaging.
Detection of leakages is performed through uninterrupted
continuous temperature monitoring of the pipeline
surroundings by means of an optical fiber cable. Detection
limits as small as 10ml/min have been achieved and the
monitoring over distances in excess of 250km is possible
with a single instrument combined with dedicated repeaters
(DRM Series) and maintained meter spatial resolution and
performance.

HDPE Blue

Steel wires
Fiber with coating

REF: AN-PIM-ENG-01

Ground Movement detection

Dedicated fiber optic cables can be used to detect and locate

in real-time pipeline displacement and strain, enabling the
early detection of increased stresses due to external effects
such as landslides and earthquakes.

Steel loose tube

Figure 2: GTMS OFC - Geotechnical Optical Fiber Cable

Third party intrusion

Third party intrusion on buried pipeline can be detected and

precisely located before damage is done to the pipeline as
soon as soil above the pipeline is disturbed.

measurement range is typically 30 km

and can extend up to 250 km with 1m
localization capability

Leakage - DETECTION PRINCIPLE

The DiTeSt Pipeline LDS is based on accurate distributed
temperature monitoring along a fiber optic cable located in
the vicinity of the pipeline.

Accurate determination of leakage is based on the

processing of the temperature profiles and takes into
account multiple parameters in order to discriminate
leakages from normal daily temperature variations. The
efficiency of the technique has validated the ability to
detect leaks as small as 50ml/min in the case of brine and
10ml/min in the case of chemicals. DITEST-AIM solution
enables the localization of the leakage with a precision in
the range of one meter along the entire pipeline.

The leakage detection is based on temperature changes. As

soon as a leakage occurs, an abnormal and local temperature
change is observed.
Typical figures are 0.5C/bar x DeltaP which indicates that
small pressure changes induce significant temperature
variations in a few minutes. The magnitude and the speed
of temperature change is in direct relation with the type of
transported fluid or gas and the leak size. If the pipeline
carries compressed gas, the temperature surrounding the
pipe decreases. In the case of pipeline transporting heated
fluids such as oil, brine, chemicals, water, etc., a leakage
leads to a local temperature increase which will then spread
laterally as the pipe continues to leak. Typically measured
temperature increase rate are a few C/min.

Detection limits as small as 10 ml/min have been

Achived anywhere along the PIPELINE
Leakage Detection Cable - LDS OFC

REF: AN-PIM-ENG-01

The selected sensing cable is a customized version of a

standard armored telecommunication fiber optics cable for
underground applications. The cable includes the optical
fibers used for temperature monitoring as well as fibers
for data communication between the instruments and the
control room.

Figure 3: LDS OFC - Leakage detection Optical Fiber Cable

Figure 4: Leakage of hot fluid schematic and software detection

OMNISENS SA - Riond Bosson 3 - 1110 Morges - Switzerland

Tel : +41 21 510 21 21 - Fax :+41 44 274 20 31
email: sales@omnisens.com
www.omnisens.com

Schematic representation of Omnisens DITEST-AIM Solution

Omnisens DITEST-AIM solutions has been designed to be adapted to project specifications

and meets the pipeline operators needs. Every project has its own specific requirements
and the best system performance is guaranteed by a careful selection of the sensing
instrumentation, optical fiber cable and its proper configuration.
Omnisens provides customer support and assistance throughout every phase of a project
and is supporting all your applications in direct and through its network of certified distributors
and solution providers.

DiTeSt Pipeline Monitoring Features and Benefits

Fully distributed monitoring capabilities,

over the whole pipeline distance
High sensitive ground movement and
intrusion detection with meter capabilities
Unrivalled pipeline leakage detection
based on temperature changes
Not affected by operational change,
transient, pigging, shut-in stand still, etc.

REF: AN-PIM-ENG-01

No false alarm
Robust and easy to install sensing
cables with full rodent protection
100% availability - automatic
unattended operation
Interface with SCADA systems
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