1 Copyright 2012 by ASME

Proceedings of the 2012 9th International Pipeline Conference

IPC2012
September 24-28, 2012, Calgary, Alberta, Canada

IPC2012-90126



STUDY ON A METHOD MONITORING OIL AND GAS PIPELINES IN PERMAFROST REGIONS

Yunbin Ma
1
, Dongjie Tan, Ning Song
PetroChina Pipeline R&D Center
Langfang, Hebei, China
1
Contact Author

Pengchao Chen, Tao Ma
Jiagedaqi oil&gas Pipeline sub-company
jiagedaqi Heilongjiang, China


KEYWORDS
Monitoring method, Permafrost, Oil and gas pipelines,
Displacement monitoring

ABSTRACT
Based on conditions of oil and gas pipelines in
permafrost regions, this paper demonstrates a method
for monitoring pipeline stress and displacement as
well as permafrost temperature field. To measure
pipeline displacement, Total Station measuring
technique which calculates displacement by measuring
the change of pipeline sign post was adopted; and to
monitor pipeline stress and temperature field of
permafrost, Fiber Grating Sensing technique was used.
This method has been applied to Pipeline No. A for a
year, according to the test results, during the year,
displacements of different degrees have been occurred
to the pipeline; this pipeline was not influenced by
frost heave in winter but was influenced by thaw
collapse in summer. Due to this monitoring method for
oil and gas pipelines in permafrost regions, the
condition of permafrost and the change of pipeline
under the impact of permafrost were successfully
monitored; therefore, this method is effective and
feasible.
INTRODUCTION





For pipelines in permafrost regions, there are
many technological challenges in design and
construction process. On one hand, soil frost heave
and thaw settlement can produce extra stresses on pipe
walls, which may result in centralized stresses and
plastic deformations under certain conditions, even
causes pipeline faults. On the other hand, buried
pipeline will disturb ambient environment and then
degrade the permafrost soil and finally impact safety of
the pipelines. To reduce the impacts of frozen soil on
pipelines in permafrost regions, many abroad and
home operation companies have taken active
measures
[1-3]
: a well designed and practical monitoring
system has been used to monitor pipeline safety and
frozen soil change of Norman wells Pipeline. However,
there is no matured technology or method to monitor
and evaluate the impacts of soil frost heave and thaw
settlement directly and effectively for the causes of
such disasters are quite complicated and frozen soils of
different regions are varied. Based on the situations
mentioned above, a method integrated monitoring of
pipeline stress, displacement and temperature is
proposed for pipelines in permafrost regions in this
paper. In addition, principles of the monitoring
method and details of application on site are given in
details. According to analysis on data of one year from
Pipeline A, this monitoring method is applicable.

2 Copyright 2012 by ASME
THE MONITORING METHOD
Pipeline Displacement Monitoring Method
FIGURE 1. PIPELINE DISPLACEMENT MONITORING METHOD
Total Station measurement technology is adopted
to monitor pipeline displacement as shown in figure 1:
install a reference stake and an aiming stake in a
monitoring area and erect sign stakes on the pipeline
to be monitored. With the reference and the aiming
stakes as the basis, establish a local coordinate system
and measure coordinates of each sign stake regularly.
Sign stakes coordinates will change if the pipeline has
any displacement, and the change between two time
intervals will be the displacement of the pipeline
during the time.
Pipeline displacements caused by frost heave and
thaw settlement are mainly shown up in vertical
direction, namely, height direction, therefore,
measurement works are mainly implemented to height
coordinates. The principles for Total Station measuring
heights is as shown in figure 2: the Total Station is set
at point A (the height of point A is known as
A
H ), and
a reflecting prism is placed at point B while the Total
Station shall aim at the center of the prim. If the slope
distance is S and vertical angle is , and the height of
point B
B
H can be calculated from the equation as
below:
l i a S H h
h H H
A AB
AB A B
+ - + =
+ =
sin
(1)
Wherein, i indicates the height of Total Station
and l refers to the height of the prism.
FIGURE 2. SCHEMATIC DIAGRAM FOR MEASURING HEIGHT OF TOTAL STATION

3 Copyright 2012 by ASME
Pipeline Stress Monitoring Method
Fiber Bragg grating strain sensors
[4]
are adopted
to monitor stress of the pipeline. The details are as
shown in figure3: three sensors are separately installed
at the places of A, B and C on the pipeline, with the
interval of 90, and then longitudinal strain of any
point on the pipeline section can be calculated in
accordance with strain values of the three points.
Longitudinal strains of all points in the circle are on
the same plane and can be calculated as following:
1 = + +
Z
p ny mx c (2)
Wherein, x and y are coordinates of any point on
the circle,
Z
c indicates longitudinal strain of the
point Z(x, y), and m, n and p are arbitrary constants.
According to known boundary conditions: the stress
value of the point A is
A
c , that of the point B is
B
c ,
and that of the point C is
C
c , then strain value
Z
c of
any point Z (x, y) on the circle can be calculated as
below:
) )(
2
2
( ) )(
2
(
2 r
y
r
x
B C A A C C A
Z
c c c c c c c
c
+

+
+
=
(3)
As strain value is symmetric about X-axis, so the
maximum and minimum strain values can be
calculated by counting the derivative of x in equation
(3), and the maximum and minimum coordinate
values of x and y can be calculated if the derivative is
supposed to be zero.
The equations to calculate values of the
coordinate (x, y) are as below:
BC AB B C A
A C
x
4 4 4 2 2
r
2 2 2
+ +

=
(4)
2
) ( 1
r
x
r y = (5)

Values of the coordinate (x, y) corresponding to the
maximum and minimum strains can be calculated
from equations (4) and (5), and then the maximum
strain
ZMAX
c of the section can be obtained by
substituting the values in equation (3).


FIGURE 3. PIPELINE STRESS MONITORING
METHOD

Method for Monitoring Temperature of Permafrost
Regions
Fibber Bragg Grating sensors
[5]
are adopted to
monitor temperatures of permafrost regions. By Fibber
Bragg Grating technology, measurement of multi-point
on a single line
[6]
, which is suitable for measuring
frozen soils of different depths can be realized. FBG
could be used for measuring physical quantities such
as stress, temperature and pressure, for which basis
principles are as shown in figure 4.






FIGURE 4. REFLECTION AND TRANSMISSION OF FBG

4 Copyright 2012 by ASME
When a beam of broad band light incoming,
FBG reflect monochromatic light
B
of matched
phase and let light of other wavelength transmission.
Light reflected has wavelength meeting below
equation:
2
B eff
n = A
(6)
Wherein,
B
is Bragg wavelength,
eff
n is effective
refractivity of optical fiber propagation mode and A
is grating grid pitch.
According to equation (6), central wavelength of
reflected light is light signal
B
which relates to
grating space A and effective refractive index of
fiber core
eff
n , therefore, when measured
temperature and stress cause changes of parameters
such as refractive index, wavelength of reflecting
center changes too. Namely, the wavelength change of
reflecting center for Fiber Bragg grating reflects
changes of measured parameters. Based on mode
coupling theory of Fiber Bragg Grating, the relation
between central wavelength of FBG and temperature
and strain can be reasoned out:
( ) ( ) c o

A + A + =
A
e f
B
B
P T 1
(7)



FIGURE 5. METHOD FOR MONITORING
TEMPERATURE OF PERMAFROST REGIONS
Wherein,
dT
d
f
A
A
=
1
o refers to Coefficient of fiber
thermal expansion;
dT
dn
n
1
= is thermo-optical
coefficient of fiber material;
c d
dn
n
P
e
1
= is elasto-
optical coefficient of fiber material.
When FBG is influenced by temperature only,
according to equation (7), the change of temperature is
linear with change of FBG wavelength. And then,
requirement temperature values can be obtained by
measuring wavelength.
Temperature monitoring method in permafrost
regions is as shown in figure5: place Fiber Bragg
Grating sensors connected in series by a cable in an
aluminum-plastic tube and install the tube in the
monitoring area. A Optical Sensing Interrogator is
connected to the cable to collect temperature data.




APPLICATION ON SITE
Installation of Displacement Monitoring Devices
Displacement monitoring devices include Total
Station, a reference stake, an aiming stake, several
sign takes and prisms, etc. Wherein, the reference
stake, aiming stake and sign takes should be installed.
To erect reference stake and aiming stake, holes with
the diameter of 110mm shall be bored and hole
inclination shall not be more than 1. Once the holes
are made, install reference stake immediately and
place concrete in the hole as deep as 2 m, getting the
reference stake consolidate with permafrost soil. The
protective pipe is a little longer than the thickness of
seasonal frozen soil layer. Lubricant shall be used
between the protective pipe and the reference stake.
When all the works have done, a casing is used to
protect the reference stake as shown figure 6.


5 Copyright 2012 by ASME
FIGURE 6. ERECTED REFERENCE STAKE
To erect sign stakes, the pipe shall be exposed,
and the size of working pit depends on the depth of the
pipeline, however, it shall be big enough for installing
the pipe clips. When the pipe clips are in place,
determine the heights of sign stakes in accordance
with pipe depth and situations of the site. As standard,
the length of a sign stake is 1 m, but actually, it
depends on monitoring height. Protective pipe is also
adopted to protect the sign stakes and lubricant is used
between a protective pipe and a sign stake as shown in
figure 7. After installation of sign stakes, backfill the
working pit while guaranteeing uprightness of the
stakes.

FIGURE 7. ERECTED SIGN STAKES
Installation of Stress Monitoring Devices
Stress Monitoring Devices include a Fiber Bragg
Grating Demodulator, several stress sensors and
cables. Fiber Bragg Grating sensors shall be affixed to
places as shown in figure 8 in accordance with
instructions of pipeline stress monitoring method.
Construction sequence is as following: 1) get the
pipeline exposed, dig a working pit of the size 2 m2
m3 m; 2) determine positions of the three sensors;
3) peel off a circle of antisepsis layer with the width of
10 cm on the pipe; 4) weld sensors: clean out paint
and rust layers with some tools and finish the surface
with a file or grinding wheels and then use 0
emery paper to grind, so to guarantee the surface is
smooth, no rusts or laitance. Finally, draw longitudinal
and transverse central lines for the tested point and
weld sensors. 5) use the fiber Bragg Grating
Demodulator to test the sensors, affix new sensor if
any one is damaged; 6) repair antisepsis layer with
Cold-applied Tapes in accordance with Technical
Criteria for External Coating Rehabilitation of Buried
Steel Pipeline (SYT59182004).

FIGURE 8. FIBER BRAGG GRATING SENSORS IN
PLACE
Installation of Temperature Monitoring Devices
Temperature Monitoring Devices include a Fiber
Bragg Grating demodulator, several temperature
sensors, cables and an aluminum-plastic tube.
Installation works of the monitoring devices are as
following: 1) bore a hole; 2) install the aluminum-
plastic tube for protecting temperature sensors. Size of
the aluminum-plastic tube depends on dimension of
transmission cables. Measure lengths of the tube
before cutting and fill a little cotton yarn in one end,
inject sealants and seal the edges. Finally, lay the tube
into the hole when the tube got dried; (3) install
temperature sensors and set wires; (4) backfill the
hole.


FIGURE 9. THE SITE OF TEMPERATURE
MONITORING DEVICES INSTALLATION
DATA ANALYSIS
Installation of displacement, stress and
temperature monitoring devices were completed in
Nov. 2010, and initial data were collected in Dec.
2010. Displacement monitoring data were regularly
collected on site manually, and stress and temperature
data were collected by cables remotely.
Displacement Monitoring Data and Relevant
Analysis
The monitoring point was set in a frozen and
swamp place where frozen ground mainly consists of

6 Copyright 2012 by ASME
silt clay and silt clay with gravels. And the frozen soils
mainly include connected permafrost soil, ice-rich soil
and thin-ice soil. 7 displacement monitoring systems
with the interval of 100 m were installed in this place.
During Dec. 2010 and Jun. 2011, 5 times of data
acquisition were implemented there. According to
figure 10, The data acquired in Dec. 9, 2010 showed
that displacements of different degrees have occurred
to the pipeline. As the pipeline that put into operation
not long before hasnt caused impact on permafrost
environment yet, it is reasoned out that the operation
caused changes of pipeline stresses and the self-
adjustment of strains caused displacements of the
pipeline. Therefore, change of the data mainly referred
to displacements of varied degrees caused by self-
adjustment of pipeline stresses after putting into
service; and settlement was found as time went.
Namely, the pipeline was under impact of thaw
settlement.
-1
-0.8
-0.6
-0.4
-0.2
0
0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8
1
100 200 300 400 500 600
Axial Length of the Pipe(m)
C
h
a
n
g
e

o
f

D
i
s
p
l
a
c
e
m
e
n
t
(
m
)
2010-12-9 2010-12-27 2011-2-14 2011-4-19 2011-5-9
FIGURE 10. ANALYSIS ON PIPELINE DISPLACEMENT DATA OF THE MONITORED POINT

Stress Monitoring Data and Relevant Analysis
18 sections with the interval of 12 m at the
monitoring point were selected to install 54 strain
sensors. Strain data were acquired in real time and
converted to stress values by software. From Dec. 2010
to Sep. 2011, stress values changed as shown in figure
11. According to figure 11, the tops of section 2 and
section 5 were under tensile stresses and the bottoms
were under pressure stresses, The maximum axial

tensile stress is 40MPa and maximum axial
compressive stress is 57MPa, which indicate that
downward curves have occurred between section 2 and
5 and settlement has happened to the pipeline.
However, the maximum axial tensile stress and
compressive stress are much less than allowable
stresses. So the pipeline is safe and much attention
should be paid to the both sections.
FIGURE 11. ANALYSIS ON PIPELINE STRESS DATA OF THE MONITORED POINT
Temperature Monitoring Data and Relevant
Analysis
The monitoring points were set around the pipe body
and the positions with the distances of 0.5 m, 1 m, 2
m, 5 m and 15 m to the pipe. A set of temperature
monitoring devices was installed at each point to
monitor changes of ambient temperature of the
pipeline. Temperature sensors were set at the interval
of 0.5 m and the depth was 15 m. figure 12 shows
changes of temperature under the pipeline from Dec.
2010 to Sep. 2011. According to the figure 12, the
temperature under the pipeline was always higher than

7 Copyright 2012 by ASME
0, so frost was not occurred under the pipeline. This
result is constant with the truth that the pipeline ran
under minus temperature.



0
0.5
1
1.5
2
2.5
3
3.5
4
4.5
5
2010-
12-1
2011-
1-1
2011-
2-1
2011-
3-1
2011-
4-1
2011-
5-1
2011-
6-1
2011-
7-1
2011-
8-1
2011-
9-1
2011-
10-1
T
e
m
p
e
r
a
t
u
r
e

D
a
t
a

FIGURE 12. ANALYSIS ON TEMPERATURE DATA ACQUIRED UNDER MONITORED PIPELINE

CONCLUDINGS
This paper shows some probes to safety
monitoring methods for oil and gas pipelines in
permafrost regions and proposes a method integrated
monitoring of pipe displacement, strain and
temperature. To monitor pipe displacement, a new
method is suggested, i.e., connecting sign stakes with
the pipeline and measure pipe displacement by
measuring changes of sign stakes coordinates. This is
the first practical example over China and abroad. To
monitor stress and temperature, Fiber Bragg Grating
technology characterized by low cost and high
precision was adopted. This system is convenient for
layout of monitoring net and has good durability under
the ground; in addition, monitoring data can be
transferred in real time by communication cables
along with the pipeline, saving costs largely.
The monitoring method has been tested in
pipeline A. the displacement monitoring device
successfully monitored the displacements caused by
operation and the impact of settlement upon the
pipeline. Presently, patent right of utility model has
been applied for this device. The pipeline stress
monitoring device successfully monitored stress
changes caused by settlement, and according to
comparison to allowable stresses, the pipeline is safe.
Presently, patent right of utility model has been
applied for this device (ZL 2008 2 0122411.8). In
addition, the pipeline temperature monitoring device
adopting FBG temperature sensors has high stability
and the measurement precision is up to 0.1. this
device is especially applicable to measure temperature
of frost soil. To sum up, this monitoring method is able
to monitor impacts of frozen soil upon pipelines and
has a broad application foreground in oil and gas
pipeline safety monitoring field.
REFERENCES
[1] Wilkie S A,Doblanko R M,Fladager S J. Case
history of local wrin-kling of a
pipeline.International Pipeline
Conference(2000)[C].Calgary,Alberta,Canada:20
00.917-922.

[2] Palmer A C,Williams P J. Frost heave and
pipeline upheaval buck-ling.Canadian
Geotechnical Journal,2003.140:1033-1038.

[3] Alaska Pipeline Service Company. Summary:
Project description of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline
system.1971.1-64.

[4] K.O. Hill, Y. Fujii, et al. Photosensitivity in
optical fiber waveguides: application to reflection
filter fabrication.Appl. Phys. Lett. 1978, 32(15):
647-649.

[5] Alan D. Kersey, Multiplexed fiber optic sensors,
SPIE[C] ,1992,1797: 161-185.

[6] William W. Morey, Recant advances in fiber
grating sensors, SPIE[C] , 1996, 2594: 90-98.