Re-using distributed fiber optic sensing to detect leaks at multiple locations

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2025110008-A1
Application number	US-202318478617-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Sep 29, 2023
Priority date	Sep 29, 2023
Publication date	Apr 3, 2025
Grant date	—

Abstract

An above ground pipe is installed at a location to transport fluid for one or more operations. A fiber optic cable is laid on the above ground pipe and temporarily attached to the above ground pipe. The fiber optic cable is laid on the above ground pipe with a sinusoidal curvature to increase contact between the fiber optic cable and the above ground pipe. Leaks along the above ground pipe are detected using measurements from the fiber optic cable. The fiber optic cable is removed from the above ground pipe for re-use at a different location.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method for re-using distributed fiber optic sensing to detect leaks at multiple locations, the method comprising:
installing an above ground pipe at a location; laying a fiber optic cable on the above ground pipe; temporarily attaching the fiber optic cable to the above ground pipe; detecting fluid leaks along the above ground pipe based on measurement using the fiber optic cable laid on and temporarily attached to the above ground pipe; and removing the fiber optic cable from the above ground pipe for re-use at a different location.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the above ground pipe is installed at the location for hydraulic fracturing of a well; and the above ground pipe operates as a flowline to transport fluid for the hydraulic fracturing of the well.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the above ground pipe includes a surface-laid pipe, a lay-flat pipe, a steel pipe, a PVC pipe, a synthetic pipe, and/or a polyethylene pipe.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the fiber optic cable is laid on the above ground pipe with a sinusoidal curvature.

5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the sinusoidal curvature of the fiber optic cable increases contact between the fiber optic cable and the above ground pipe.

6 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the sinusoidal curvature of the fiber optic cable positions the fiber optic cable between a five o'clock position and a seven o'clock position of the above ground pipe.

7 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the sinusoidal curvature of the fiber optic cable is stretched and/or squeezed along the above ground pipe.

8 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising locating pinch-points along the above ground pipe based on the measurement using the fiber optic cable laid on and temporarily attached to the above ground pipe.

9 . The method of claim 8 , further comprising:
identifying one or more kinks in the above ground pipe at the pinch-points; and fixing the one or more kinks in the above ground pipe.

10 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising facilitating one or more operations for the above ground pipe based on detection of fluid leaks along the above ground pipe.

11 . A system for re-using distributed fiber optic sensing to detect leaks at multiple locations, the system comprising:
an above ground pipe installed at a location; a fiber optic cable laid on and temporarily attached to the above ground pipe, wherein the fiber optic cable is removable from the above ground pipe for re-use at a different location; and one or more physical processors configured by machine readable-instructions to detect fluid leaks along the above ground pipe based on measurement using the fiber optic cable laid on and temporarily attached to the above ground pipe.

12 . The system of claim 11 , wherein:
the above ground pipe is installed at the location for hydraulic fracturing of a well; and the above ground pipe operates as a flowline to transport fluid for the hydraulic fracturing of the well.

13 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the above ground pipe includes a surface laid pipe, a lay-flat pipe, a steel pipe, a PVC pipe, a synthetic pipe, and/or a polyethylene pipe.

14 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the fiber optic cable is laid on the above ground pipe with a sinusoidal curvature.

15 . The system of claim 14 , wherein the sinusoidal curvature of the fiber optic cable increases contact between the fiber optic cable and the above ground pipe.

16 . The system of claim 14 , wherein the sinusoidal curvature of the fiber optic cable positions the fiber optic cable between a five o'clock position and a seven o'clock position of the above ground pipe.

17 . The system of claim 14 , wherein the sinusoidal curvature of the fiber optic cable is stretched and/or squeezed along the above ground pipe.

18 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the one or more physical processors are further configured by the machine readable-instructions to locate pinch-points along the above ground pipe based on the measurement using the fiber optic cable laid on and temporarily attached to the above ground pipe.

19 . The system of claim 18 , wherein:
one or more kinks in the above ground pipe are identified at the pinch-points; and the one or more kinks in the above ground pipe are fixed.

20 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the one or more physical processors are further configured by the machine readable-instructions to facilitate one or more operations for the above ground pipe based on detection of fluid leaks along the above ground pipe.

Assignees

• Chevron Usa Inc

Inventors

• Salmatanis Nikolaos Ioannis
• Visairo Omar

Classifications

• G01M3/38

  by using light (G01M3/02 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G01M3/142 Primary

  for tubes · CPC title