Scour monitoring system of subsea pipeline using distributed Brillouin optical sensors based on active thermometry

A scour monitoring system of subsea pipeline is proposed using distributed Brillouin optical sensors based on active thermometry. The system consists in a thermal cable running parallel to the pipeline, which acquires frequency shift of optical sensors during heating and cooling, directly indicating temperature change. The free spans can be detected through the different behaviors of heat transfer between in-water and in-sediment scenarios. Three features were extracted from temperature time histories including magnitude, spatial continuity and temporal stability. Several experimental tests were conducted using the proposed system. The results substantiate the monitoring technique.

► A scour monitoring system of subsea pipeline is proposed using distributed Brillouin optical sensors based on active thermometry.
► The free spans can be detected through the different behaviors of heat transfer between in-water and in-sediment scenarios.
► Three features were extracted from temperature time histories for free span identification. They are magnitude, spatial continuity and temporal stability.
► The results of several experimental tests conducted using the proposed system substantiated the monitoring technique.