Session: 06-05-03 Strain Demand

Paper Number: 133997

133997 - Use of Communication Cable for Geohazard Monitoring and Event Early Detection: The Transportadora Del Perú Case Study 

Abstract: 

Optical fiber cables (OFC) are well known for their long distance and high-speed transmission capabilities. OFC are often the communication backbone of hydrocarbon transportation systems that carries the operating companies Information technologies and SCADA services.  In some cases, part of the fibers is also used to bring internet services to isolated communities. As an example, the Transportadora de Gas del Perú (TGP) system has about 790 km of cables laid in its Right of Way (ROW) that have been in use since the beginning of its operation in 2004. More recently, OFCs have started to be used as sensors. In these applications, a communication cable (CC) can be applied as a continuous temperature sensor to detect intrusion, leak, and erosion. A dedicated strain monitoring cable (SMC) can also be spliced to the CC for monitoring landslides and subsidence in areas of special interest. In case of large ground displacements, it is common to observe induced deformation on the CC.  Integrated to a pipeline integrity monitoring system, the OFC solution improves the early detection of potential risks and allows the implementation of protection or mitigation measures.

 

The current work describes the retrofitting of 256km of the TGP backbone which included a pilot project over 18 km of ROW section composed of a mix of CC and SMC.  In addition, a detailed and experimental study of the sensitivity of CC to environmental stresses was conducted to validate the approach.  The full-scale installation of the system along the 256km stretch comprising the geographical area of the Amazon rainforest and part of the Andes Mountain range was completed at the end of 2022.  The installation of this technique was timely to increase monitoring and surveillance during the 2022-2023 and 2023-2024 rainy seasons, rainy season being the most complicated season for infrastructures crossing the Andes.  Several events have been detected early enough to allow the implementation of preventive measures.  The system demonstrated its effectiveness in operability, complementarity with other geotechnical monitoring systems and follow-up of the stability condition of the ROW in the instrumented section.

Presenting Author: Fabien Ravet Gradesens

Presenting Author Biography: From 1994, I have been active in the development and the dissemination of measurement and sensing technologies based on optical fibres. My field of expertise covers distributed fiber optic sensing and its application to transportation infrastructures as well as to the prevention of natural hazards. More recently, I am expending my know how to IoT based sensing approach combined to data analysis for predictive maintenance of industrial systems.

Authors:

Fabien Ravet Gradesens
Ricard Mas Fillol Omnisens
Alberto Melo Tranportadora de Gas del Perú
Francisco Oliveros Transportadora de Gas del Perú
Cristian Grecco Omnisens
Etienne Rochat Omnisens