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Southern California Gas Co. (SoCalGas) has broken ground on a first-of-its kind. fiber optic cable installation that will allow the company to monitor the condition of its high-pressure transmission pipelines in real-time.
The fiber optic technology is being installed along a new. seven-mile section of natural gas pipeline in Bakersfield. California and will serve as an early warning system to detect unauthorized construction work that could damage the pipeline and changes in pressure in the line that could indicate a leak.
The company said it plans to install fiber optic cable along all new and replacement pipeline segments 12 inches and greater in diameter and one-mile long.
The technology uses fiber optic cables that run along a pipeline and transmit data across long distances. The system operates on the principle that light signals vary when a fiber optic cable is exposed to vibration. stress or abnormal changes in temperature—all indicators of a possible natural gas leak or an impact to a natural gas line. The fiber optic system can pinpoint within 20 feet where a potential problem may be developing.
When a threat is detected. information is sent along the fiber cable to a remote monitoring station within seconds. where operators interpret signal changes to determine the source of potential intrusions including. heavy equipment operation. unexpected earth movement or other physical impacts like structural stress from broken water mains.
Access to continuous. real-time measurements and area-specific data can give SoCalGas crews and first responders more time to plan. allocate resources and take effective actions to mitigate potential leaks and damage to pipelines. the company said in a statement.
