RETROFITTING EXISTING PIPELINES FOR FIBER OPTIC MONITORING

Retrofitting Existing Pipelines for
Fiber Optic Monitoring
Mike Hooper – Hifi
Pipeline Technology USA | 8 Sept 2022

1
September 7-8, Houston, TX | Pipeline Technology USA
AGENDA
• Background on Hifi & Distributed Fiber Optic Sensing
• Deployment Methods for Pipelines
• Retrofitting of Pipelines
• External Retrofitting
• Internal Retrofitting
• Distributed Sensing Performance for Retrofitted Systems
• Summary

2
HIFI COMPANY BACKGROUND
• Founded 2007, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
• Technology service provider focused on turnkey distributed fiber
optic sensing systems including fiber/sensors, hardware & machine
learning software
• Next-generation, high-fidelity distributed sensing (HDS™) optical
technology
• In-house tech development driven by expert team of software
engineers for custom AI/ML applications; powered by 90+ patents
• Structured to focus on one key goal: providing highest quality data
• Strategic investors – core asset integrity focus:
• HDS deployed or contracted for deployment on > 3 million meters
• 2022 SDTC Canada’s Sustainability Changemakers
2021 Deloitte Tech Fast 500 & Clean Tech Awards
2021 FOSA Project of the Year (Trans Mountain Pipeline)

3
THE GOAL: IMPROVING ON TRADITIONAL SENSOR COVERAGE
The industry needs more advanced & intelligent sensors:
• Point sensors (mass balance sensors, microphones) may not have sufficient resolution & precision
• Periodic surveys (ILI, drones, helicopters, smart-balls) may not be deployed at the right time
• There will always be doubt across “space and time” unless we can achieve 100% coverage
How can we
achieve
100%
coverage
with
100%
assurance?

4
SPECIALIZED FIBER OPTICS AS INTELLIGENT SENSORS
• Fiber optic sensors capture signatures when certain
energy forms (acoustic, thermal, strain & vibration)
interfere with precisely controlled light pulses moving
along the optical fiber
• The result is distributed sensing, or continuous
measurement along every metre of the fiber.
Always on. Always Sensing.
• Technology allows for detection of minute energy
signatures in real time:
• Optical hardware (Interrogator) interprets signatures,
while Artificial Intelligence (AI) & Machine Learning
(ML) algorithms characterize signals to differentiate
normal vs. abnormal

5
BEST AVAILABLE TECHNOLOGY FOR PIPELINE SENSING
• HDS™ represents a fundamental redesign of system elements to harness capabilities of
specialty sensing fiber & optimize entire system for maximum fidelity
• Higher fidelity enables superior AI & ML, the foundation for effective real-world performance
• Result is virtual elimination of false positives & 100% accuracy for intelligent decision making
Specialized Fiber Optic Sensor
(designed for sensing, not telecom)
System Hardware
(advanced light power management &
computing horsepower for Big Data)
Software, Algorithms & User Interface
(AI & Machine Learning capabilities define
‘intelligence’ of the system )

6
FIBER OPTIC SENSING DEPLOYMENT METHODS
EXTERNAL, ON-PIPE DEPLOYMENT (Greenfield)
• Secure fiber sensor in electrical conduit directly on the pipe
• Fiber jetted in after construction or preloaded in advance
• Best / cheapest for new construction (< 1% of new pipeline cost)
EXTERNAL, NEAR-PIPE DEPLOYMENT (Greenfield & Retrofit)
• Place fiber sensor in electrical conduit close to pipe (~1m)
• Fiber jetted in after construction or preloaded in advance
• Applicable to new construction & retrofitting of existing pipelines
• Inexpensive for new construction (< 1% of new pipeline cost)
INTERNAL, INSIDE-PIPE DEPLOYMENT (Retrofit & HCA)
• Place protected fiber sensor (stainless steel cap tube) inside pipe
• Similar to downhole wellbore applications
• Can be retractable in high consequence areas (short km’s)

7
ON-PIPE EXTERNAL DEPLOYMENT

8
NEAR-PIPE EXTERNAL DEPLOYMENT

9
WHY RETROFIT WITH DFOS?
• Municipal encroachment occurring more frequently
as cities & towns expand into previously rural areas
and existing pipeline rights-of-way (ROW)
• In some cases, encroachment triggers application
of updated standards (i.e., modified Location
Factors for LVP pipelines under CSA Z662)
• 2.5M miles of energy pipelines in the USA alone;
these assets are aging with increasing integrity
risks and heightened stakeholder scrutiny
• DFOS is an excellent complement to conventional
monitoring approaches and technologies for these
pipelines (consistent with API 1175)
• Adding DFOS to existing pipelines can potentially
extend the asset lifetime of those pipelines and is
much less costly than derating or rebuilding
• Strong alignment with Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG)
strategies and scorecards
• Accuracy of machinery and methods to locate pipe & deploy
fiber/conduit have matured rapidly
• Regulators, standards organizations and legislators across North America are
driving increasingly stringent requirements for pipeline leak detection and integrity
monitoring, including stipulations governing use of best available technology
Future
Development

10
• With new technologies able to better locate pipeline assets,
conduit for fiber sensing can be placed sufficiently close to the
existing pipeline for effective DFOS
• Must balance considerations for the following:
• Proximity to pipeline to achieve effective sensing
• Sufficient separation to avoid any risk of pipeline damage
• Need for continuity of the fiber/conduit
• Hifi’s experience and significant testing have found that a
distance of ~ 1 meter (3 feet) from the pipe represents the
optimal “near pipe” location to address the these factors
• Recommendations for successful external retrofitting include:
• Use existing locate staff
• Current/accurate as-built records are critical
• Survey expected pipe position at regular intervals along ROW
• Confirm pipe location via periodic bell holes
• Machinery & tools for conduit placement have also improved
dramatically, allowing for reliable ‘Smart’ trenching
• Proximity remains a challenge for trenchless crossings; best
practice is to bore wide of existing pipe for short distances and
reacquire proximity after the crossing
• Economics now viable in many cases & continue to improve
Finding balance of proximity, safety,
and cable continuity is key for near-
field external sensor placement
CONSIDERATIONS FOR EXTERNAL RETROFITTING

11
• An accurately mapped ROW with
hydrovac’d bell holes can be utilized
to leverage precise machine-based
placement of the conduit at the
desired position
• Bell hole spacing will have a key
economic impact on the retrofit
• Utility locating processes and
technology have become very
accurate & effective
• Locating the pipe should leverage
existing pipeline locate resources /
personnel familiar with the asset
EXTERNAL RETROFITTING SCENARIOS

12
• Considerable learnings from many successful Horizontal
Directional Drills (HDD) and Bores (HDB), including use of:
• Armored connections on pull head
• Redundant conduit and SS capillary tubing to ensure
survivability of fiber host given ‘one & done’ nature of HDDs
• Proximity remains a challenge for trenchless crossings; best
practice is to bore wide of existing pipe for short distances and
reacquire proximity after the crossing
• See below for schematic of separately drilled conduit pulled
wide of the existing pipe to host conduit/fiber ( )
EXTERNAL RETROFITTING – HDD/HDB CONSIDERATIONS

13
• Accuracy of machines for conduit & cable placement have seen rapid advancement
• Suite of integrated technologies includes ground penetrating radar, ultrasound, high-accuracy
GPS, inertial compensation and blade management technologies
MACHINE TECHNOLOGY ADVANCES FOR EXTERNAL RETROFITTING

14
• Hifi existing retrofit project in
Western Canada (~ 200 km total
retrofit for sensing)
• Vibratory plowing of conduit shown
at right; targeting ~ 1 m spacing
from the pipe at the 3 o’clock
position
• Consistent, accurate placement
(+/- 0.2 m) achieved even over
incredibly rugged terrain (see
photo directly below)
MACHINE TECHNOLOGY ADVANCES FOR EXTERNAL RETROFITTING

15
RETROFITTING VIA INTERNAL DEPLOYMENT
• Retrofitting with DFOS via internal deployment represents a compelling solution design for short high
consequence areas (HCAs) by deploying sensors safely & efficiently
• River crossings, environmental zones, populated areas, etc.
• HDS™ detects events even under flowing conditions when sensor is inside the pipe
• Deployment uses tow pig and injector system to push and pull fiber optic sensor (in stainless steel
capillary tube) into place and through use of a detachment / release mechanism
• Tethered pigs have also been contemplated
• Low profile of cap tube does not compromise flow
• Deployment costs reasonable
• Challenges & Considerations
• Ingress options
• Shut off valves
• Pack off assembly safety seals
• Coexistence with pigs
• Long distances
RETRACTABLE SPOOL

16
INTERNAL DEPLOYMENT – INGRESS & TOW ASSEMBLY
• Internal deployment of HDS™ in active gas line (collaboration with SaskEnergy)
• Primary project focus on encroachment/disturbance detection (damage prevention)
• Secondary focus on leak detection & internal vs. external sensing comparison
Pig Launching Barrel
Tow Pig Assembly

17
DFOS SENSING PERFORMANCE POST-RETROFIT
• Single most important step is to baseline the asset for characterization of
normal versus abnormal pipeline activity
• Hifi has assembled a database of pipeline activity signatures; these are
used to train machine learning algorithms to automatically detect or
reject/suppress incoming data
LEAK
SIMULATIONS
GROUND
INTRUSION
ROW SIGN
INSTALLATION
• Some normal/ambient activities for pipelines may include:
• Flow change & start/stop
• Motor vehicle traffic
• Train traffic
• Occasional heavy vehicles/machines near pipeline ROW
• Facilities along the ROW
• Some abnormal activities for pipelines include:
• Valves being opened and closed unexpectedly
• Excessive strain (geotechnical - one time or cumulative)
• Intrusion events
• Leaks from taps, valves or ruptures
• Best practice is to simulate major events during baselining (including leak
simulations, ground intrusion, and vehicle signatures) to train the system
• This allows HDS™ to alarm on or suppress any detected events to prevent
false positives (i.e. alarming on flow changes or other flow anomalies)

18
POST-RETROFIT DATA FROM BASELINE TESTING
• Above Ground Tests
• Vehicle signatures driving up & down the ROW, and Tap Tests for precise determination of sensor offset
• Ground Intrusion Tests
• Ground Disturbance event detection with internally and externally deployed sensing fibers
Staggered Strain Plot with Driving
Signatures
Staggered Acoustic Magnitude (RMS) Plot with
Driving Signatures
Direction
of Travel
3D Acoustic Magnitude (RMS) showing 5
Tap Test Signatures
Ground Disturbances (Excavator) Generated at 15, 10, 5 &
1 meters from Pipeline at 1 meter depth
Filtered Strain Data showing Ground Disturbance Signatures
Test 1 (15 m), Test 2 (10 m), Test 3 (5 m), Test 4 (1 m)
Internal Fiber
External Fiber
External Fiber

19
POST-RETROFIT DATA FROM BASELINE TESTING
• Leak Simulation Results (External Retrofit)
• Leak detection signatures from external pipeline retrofit (~ 1 m from pipeline) shown here:
• Leak Simulation Results (internal Retrofit)
• Plot shows acoustic signatures from internal HDS™ sensors for simulated leaks with varying orifice & pressures

20
HDS MONITOR USER INTERFACE SOFTWARE
• Graphical User Interface
• Well-designed and intuitive GUI is critical for effective operational integration of DFOS monitoring systems
• HDS™ GUI designed to leverage control room familiarity with SCADA-based alarm interfaces

21
SUMMARY
• Driven by growth in commercial deployments & continuous technological evolution,
retrofitting of existing pipelines to leverage the benefits of DFOS represents a
compelling option via both external and internal deployment
• Costs for external retrofit remain elevated vs. greenfield deployment of DFOS, but
continue to decline and now represent a viable approach for aging pipelines
• Accuracy of technology and processes for pipe locating and for placement of conduit / cable have
improved dramatically
• Hifi’s experience and significant testing scenarios have found that 1 meter (~ 3 feet) from the pipe is
optimal for sensing, effectively balancing the need for both proximity and continuity
• Internal deployment has proven highly effective for shorter, high consequence areas
• Most beneficial where trench deployment is challenging / expensive / not available
• Requires installing and monitoring a pack-off assembly at an ingress point, with a tow pig and capillary
tube release mechanism for insertion of the fiber sensor
• Challenges remain for retraction/redeployment to allow for frequent pigging; Hifi is working on potential
custom pig designs to permit co-existence of the fiber sensor during pigging activities
• Advancements in retrofitting capabilities enable cost-effective deployment of DFOS for
brownfield assets, bringing the many benefits of advanced integrity monitoring and
leak detection and potentially precluding requirements for derating or rebuilding

22
QUESTIONS?
Thank You
Mike Hooper
Hifi Engineering
mhooper@hifieng.com

Hifi Advanced Digital Solutions for Pipeline Monitoring
We are hifi - our technology helps our clients operate the smartest, most reliable infrastructure in the world
Pipeline Technology USA | 7-8 Sept 2022

RETROFITTING EXISTING PIPELINES FOR FIBER OPTIC MONITORING

Recommended

Recommended

More Related Content

Similar to RETROFITTING EXISTING PIPELINES FOR FIBER OPTIC MONITORING

Similar to RETROFITTING EXISTING PIPELINES FOR FIBER OPTIC MONITORING (20)

More from iQHub

More from iQHub (20)

Recently uploaded

Recently uploaded (20)

RETROFITTING EXISTING PIPELINES FOR FIBER OPTIC MONITORING