Pipeline leak detection is a difficult problem to solve up to now. Some traditional leak detection methods have such problems as high rate of false alarm or missing detection, low location estimate capability. For the problems given above, a method for oil pipeline leak detection based on distributed optical fibre sensor with special coating is presented. The fibre's coating interacts with hydrocarbon molecules in oil, which alters the refractive index of the coating. Therefore the light-guiding properties of the fibre are modified. Thus pipeline leak location can be determined by OTDR. Oil pipeline leak detection system is designed based on the principle. The system has some features like real time, multi-point detection at the same time and high location accuracy. In the end, some factors that probably influence detection are analysed and primary improving actions are given.
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