Distributed Optical Fiber Sensing Technology: A Strong Guarantee for the Safe and Efficient Operation of Gas Storage Facilities

In the strategic layout of energy storage and allocation, gas storage facilities play an extremely critical role. With fluctuations in natural gas demand and increasing requirements for energy supply stability, the safe and efficient operation of gas storage facilities has become more important than ever. The advent of distributed optical fiber sensing technology has introduced an innovative solution for gas storage monitoring, holding profound significance and broad application prospects.

Advantages of Distributed Optical Fiber Sensing Technology

1. High Precision and Sensitivity

Distributed optical fiber sensing technology can precisely capture minute changes in temperature, strain differences, and physical variations related to gas leakage. In gas storage monitoring, even the slightest temperature increase in a pipeline, minor strain on a storage tank, or environmental parameter fluctuations caused by trace gas leaks can be swiftly detected. This enables early warnings and precise problem localization. For instance, the temperature resolution can be accurate to 0.1°C or even higher, and strain resolution can reach a level of micro-strains, far surpassing many traditional monitoring methods.

2. Distributed Measurement Capability

This technology allows for continuous monitoring across several kilometers or even tens of kilometers along the optical fiber line, capturing large volumes of data points in a single operation. It forms comprehensive distribution curves for temperature, strain, and other parameters, offering a systematic and complete view of the operational status of a gas storage facility. In contrast to traditional point-based sensors, which can only measure at limited locations, distributed sensing provides a much more holistic understanding of the facility's overall condition. For instance, in the monitoring of long-distance pipelines in large-scale gas storage facilities, a single optical fiber can seamlessly monitor the entire pipeline without the need for numerous discrete sensors.

3. Intrinsic Safety and Strong Resistance to Interference

Optical fibers are non-conductive and produce no sparks, making them highly safe in the flammable and explosive environments of gas storage facilities. Moreover, they exhibit strong resistance to electromagnetic interference. Whether it is electromagnetic radiation from surrounding electrical equipment or strong electromagnetic pulses caused by lightning, such factors have almost no impact on monitoring signals. This ensures the stability and reliability of monitoring data.

Applications in Real-World Scenarios

Case Study 1: Leak Detection in a Domestic Gas Storage Facility

A large gas storage facility in China adopted distributed optical fiber temperature sensing technology to monitor its underground pipeline network comprehensively. During the initial construction phase, specialized optical fibers were laid along several kilometers of pipelines, acting as sensitive nerves reaching every critical point. In one routine monitoring session, the system detected abnormal temperature fluctuations in a section of the pipeline, where the temperature was slightly elevated compared to surrounding areas. After a thorough investigation, technicians identified slight wear in a seal at a pipeline joint, causing trace gas leakage and heat generation. Thanks to the precise localization of the abnormal point, the faulty seal was promptly replaced, successfully avoiding a potential large-scale gas leakage incident and ensuring the facility's safe and stable operation.

Case Study 2: Strain Monitoring in an Overseas Gas Storage Facility

An overseas gas storage project, located in a seismically active region with complex geological conditions, highlighted the advantages of distributed optical fiber sensing technology in strain monitoring. To ensure the structural safety of storage tanks under high-pressure storage and potential seismic impacts, distributed optical fiber strain sensors were laid along the tank surfaces and surrounding geological structures. After a strong earthquake, the monitoring system immediately detected abnormal strain values in a specific area of the tank. In-depth analysis of the data revealed structural vulnerabilities caused by seismic forces. Engineers quickly formulated and implemented reinforcement measures, effectively preventing structural damage and gas leakage risks due to the earthquake. This safeguarded the surrounding environment and personnel while avoiding significant economic losses.

Gas Leakage Monitoring

The technology is also highly effective for detecting gas leaks in storage facilities. When gas leaks from a pipeline or tank, it causes changes in the surrounding environment's temperature, pressure, and concentration. Optical fiber sensors can detect these anomalous physical fluctuations, accurately identifying the occurrence and location of leaks. Compared with traditional leak detection methods, distributed optical fiber sensing offers higher sensitivity and accuracy, enabling the identification of issues at the early stages of a leak. This greatly reduces response time and minimizes the severity of leakage incidents.

Enabling Smart Operation and Future Prospects

From an overall operational management perspective, distributed optical fiber sensing technology provides vast, continuous, and real-time data, laying a foundation for intelligent operations in gas storage facilities. Integrated with data analysis systems and automated control platforms, it enables comprehensive and dynamic assessments and optimizations of operational status. For example, it allows real-time adjustments to gas injection and withdrawal rates based on changes in temperature and strain parameters, enhancing efficiency and storage capacity utilization while ensuring safety. It also facilitates predictive maintenance scheduling based on monitoring data, reducing equipment failure rates and extending service life.

Looking ahead, distributed optical fiber sensing technology has immense application potential in gas storage monitoring. With continuous technological innovation, sensor performance is expected to improve further, achieving higher measurement precision and significantly extending monitoring distances to cover larger and more complex facilities. Simultaneously, breakthroughs in data processing and analysis, leveraging artificial intelligence and big data algorithms, will uncover deeper, more forward-looking insights from massive monitoring data. This will enable ultra-precise predictions of operational states and advance prevention of potential risks, such as predicting long-term geological impacts on storage structures and formulating proactive strategies.

In line with the trend of smart development, distributed optical fiber sensing technology will deeply integrate with cutting-edge technologies like the Internet of Things (IoT) and cloud computing. This will establish more intelligent and efficient monitoring and management systems for gas storage facilities. Operators will gain real-time, comprehensive insights into facility status via remote terminals, realizing automated operations with minimal human intervention. This not only boosts operational efficiency but also reduces labor costs. Additionally, the technology is expected to play a key role in the design and construction of new gas storage facilities, enabling real-time monitoring of various parameters during construction and providing data-driven support for quality control and structural optimization.

Distributed optical fiber sensing technology is undoubtedly a core technology driving the safe, efficient, and sustainable development of gas storage facilities. It plays an indispensable role in ensuring national energy security and optimizing energy supply systems.