Mud Temperature and Depth Modeling Based on the Detection of Shallow Buried Optical Cables

• Published in: 2024 OES China Ocean Acoustics (COA) pp. 1 - 6
• Main Authors: Zhang, Luwei, Wang, Jiawei, Yang, Fan, Wan, Lijun, Zhang, Lei, Li, Dongming
• Format: Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: IEEE 29.05.2024
• Subjects: buried depth estimation; Data models; distributed optical fiber sensing system; Estimation; Ocean temperature; Predictive models; Sea surface; submarine cable temperature monitoring; Surveys; T - D model; Temperature distribution; Temperature measurement; Temperature sensors; Underwater cables
• DOI: 10.1109/COA58979.2024.10723553

The rapid expansion of marine projects has resulted in the extensive deployment of submarine cables on the seabed, gradually highlighting the safety concerns associated with such endeavors. A crucial factor influencing the safe use of submarine cables is their burial depth. Inadequate burial or exposure to the sea surface renders them vulnerable to anchor damage, seawater erosion, and marine animal interference, ultimately leading to cable breakage. Therefore, regular monitoring of the burial depth is imperative for ensuring the safe operation of submarine cables. Although techniques such as shallow strata profiling and magnetic exploration effectively survey submarine cable depths, conducting these operations underwater are highly challenging and expensive. Consequently, remote monitoring of submarine cable depths becomes indispensable. This paper proposes a method that employs a temperature-depth (T-D) model relationship for burial depth estimation to address this issue. Test results demonstrate that the estimation results of the revised T-D model and the actual survey findings indicate an error of approximately 0.7 m in the upward movement of the test cable. Therefore, it is feasible to use the proposed T - D model for estimating submarine cable burial depth during safety monitoring due to its universal applicability. Once validated as effective and stable through long-term submarine cable monitoring, this method can be integrated into a submarine cable operation and maintenance system for remote monitoring and risk assessment of burial depth. This will enable cost-effective and efficient protection of submarine cable operation.