Description
The WG Acoustic Fibre Optic Pipeline Security System (AFOPSS) is designed to protect gas, oil and other utility pipeline distribution networks and their remote facilities by providing an early warning of leaks, illegal taps, excavations and intruders which could pose a potential threat.
If a pipeline is damaged significant revenues will be lost, damage may also be caused to the local environment and the leakage could be a potential danger to the local population.
More importantly a terrorist attack on an unprotected utility pipeline could have catastrophic consequences.
Need for Pipeline Security
Preventing or detecting leaks caused by corrosion, environmental or malicious damage is a major challenge to pipeline operators faced with ever tighter regulations worldwide.
Where pipelines run through sensitive areas or over long distances in remote, hostile territory, conventional monitoring and protection methods can be stretched beyond effective limits.
If a pipeline is damaged significant revenues will be lost, damage may also be caused to the local environment and the leakage could be a potential danger to the local population.
More importantly a terrorist attack on an unprotected utility pipeline could have catastrophic consequences.
Pipeline Security Solution
The WG Acoustic Fibre Optic Pipeline Security System (AFOPSS) is designed to protect gas, oil and other utility pipeline distribution networks and their remote facilities by providing an early warning of leaks, illegal taps, excavations and intruders which could pose a potential threat.
AFOPSS will monitor vibration and acoustics at every metre of a pipeline with a single standard communication optical fibre sensor linked to one or more interrogator units.
AFOPSS unique sensing solution will provide security and monitoring, detecting third party interference (TPI) tampering and illegal tapping attempts to within 1 metre along the pipeline.
AFOPSS un-rivalled sensitivity means the sensor can detect analyse and locate leaks or potential threats instantly, regardless of distance.
AFOPSS will alert you with accurate (GPS / GIS) location and intelligent event analysis in time to mitigate the risk from leakage or threats such as digging, landslides, drilling, hot tapping or attempted sabotage.
The consequences of a pipeline failure mean that for a responsible business, integrity assurance and risk mitigation is mandatory.
AFOPSS enables pipeline operators to overcome many of the constraints of conventional systems, with AFOPSS you can:-
· One system can cover up 40km of pipeline
· Simultaneously monitor every metre of a pipeline of any length 24/7
· Immediately detect and locate leaks or threats to 1 metre accuracy
· Differentiate multiple events down to 2 metre resolution
· Track potential attackers in vehicles or on foot
· Identify real threats and avoid false alarms
· Detect and track direction and speed of vehicle movements or even footsteps
· Minimal false alarms due to event recognition
· Interface to GIS systems to rapidly show event location
· Report alarms to control rooms, websites, text and PDA
· Remotely configure, manage and upgrade interrogator
· Low maintenance and resilient sensor
· It can utilise an existing fibre optic communications cable as the sensor, dramatically reducing the installation cost
· PIG’s can be monitored in real time though a pipeline
· Detect leaks in real time
· Provide perimeter intrusion detection around pipeline facility buildings & provide plant monitoring facilities
Operation
Unrivalled Acoustic Surveillance for any Length of Pipeline in any Situation
The AFOPSS unit analyses the back-scatter of pulsed laser light from a standard optical fibre cable (often already in place for SCADA or communications) to provide unrivalled monitoring sensitivity for up to 50 km of pipeline per unit.
By linking multiple units the system can monitor hundreds, even thousands of kilometres from a single location.
Pipeline Surveillance at the Speed of Light
AFOPSS automated alarms can integrate with CCTV, security lighting and GIS systems and can provide the control room with pin-point audio-visual corroboration and location details of a suspect event.
Monitor, Identify and Alert; Minimise False Alarms
The AFOPSS sensor typically detects personnel activity at 15 metres and vehicle movement at 40 metres either side of the sensor fibre.
The AFOPSS system recognises potentially critical events such as excavation, drilling or cutting near pipelines while ignoring background environmental noise thus minimising false alarms.
AFOPSS dynamically tracks vehicles or footsteps, and reports precise location, speed and direction of travel, enabling rapid engagement by security systems and personnel.
The graphical user interface for monitoring and alarming is simple, intuitive, showing each event on a map and giving data such as categorisation in visual formats.
AFOPSS integrates with PTZ CCTV, security lighting and GIS mapping systems, and will interface with security systems, IT networks, mobile communication and the Internet for remote monitoring and control.