Optical fiber pipeline monitoring system and method
US8131121B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 7, 2009 |
| Grant date | Mar 6, 2012 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 7, 2029 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01M11/086
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a fiber surveillance system for monitoring a pipeline is provided. The surveillance system includes an optical fiber acoustically coupled to the pipeline to detect acoustic signals associated with vibrations or other activity near or from the pipeline. Optical energy is injected into the optical fiber and an optical detector receives an optical return-signal having certain characteristics resulting from vibrations impinging on the optical fiber. An analyzer is configured to determine operating information about the pipeline based on the optical return-signal. Two or more fibers can be acoustically coupled to the pipeline and arranged in varying configurations to yield greater resolution.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.