Fiber optic pipeline monitoring systems and methods of using the same

• Main Authors: GOLDNER ERIC LEE, BAKER GERALD ROBERT, CHERBETTCHIAN AGOP HYGASOV, ANDERSEN JAMES KENGO
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 01.12.2015
• Subjects: DETECTING MASSES OR OBJECTS; GEOPHYSICS; GRAVITATIONAL MEASUREMENTS; MEASUREMENT OF MECHANICAL VIBRATIONS OR ULTRASONIC, SONIC ORINFRASONIC WAVES; MEASURING; MEASURING ANGLES; MEASURING AREAS; MEASURING IRREGULARITIES OF SURFACES OR CONTOURS; MEASURING LENGTH, THICKNESS OR SIMILAR LINEARDIMENSIONS; PHYSICS; TESTING

An optical detection system for monitoring a pipeline. The optical detection system includes a host node in the vicinity of, or remote from, a pipeline to be monitored. The optical detection system includes (a) an optical source for generating optical signals, and (b) an optical receiver. The optical detection system also includes a plurality of fiber optic sensors local to the pipeline for converting at least one of vibrational and acoustical energy to optical intensity information, each of the fiber optic sensors having: (1) at least one length of optical fiber configured to sense at least one of vibrational and acoustical energy; (2) a reflector at an end of the at least one length of optical fiber; and (3) a field node for receiving optical signals from the host node, the field node transmitting optical signals along the at least one length of optical fiber, receiving optical signals back from the at least one length of optical fiber, and transmitting optical signals to the optical receiver of the host node.