LOS ANGELES, Dec. 13, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Southern
California Gas Co. (SoCalGas) today announced it 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. Photos of the technology from today's installation are
available here.
"SoCalGas is committed to modernizing our infrastructure to
enhance safety for our customers and reduce our carbon footprint,"
said Deanna Haines, director of gas
engineering for SoCalGas. "This technology provides our engineers
with a critical early warning system that can prevent damage to our
lines and help us mitigate leaks more quickly."
"Having real-time information on the status of high-pressure
pipelines is critical in the early detection of a potential
problem," said Brian Marshall,
Kern County Fire Chief.
"Firefighters will be able to respond quickly to an emergency and
work with SoCal Gas to stop the problem from escalating."
The technology uses fiber optic cables that run along a pipeline
and that 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.
SoCalGas is one of the first natural gas utilities in the
country to use the technology in natural gas transmission and
high-pressure pipeline system operations. The company plans to
install fiber optic cable along all new and replacement pipeline
segments 12 inches and greater in diameter and one-mile long.
Incorporating fiber optics into its transmission pipeline and
distribution systems is part of SoCalGas' commitment to upgrading
and modernizing its more than 101,000 miles of natural gas
pipelines in order to provide customers with the safe, reliable,
and affordable energy they deserve.
About SoCalGas
Headquartered in Los Angeles, SoCalGas® is the largest natural
gas distribution utility in the United
States, providing clean, safe, affordable and reliable
natural gas service to 21.7 million customers in Central and
Southern California. Its service
territory spans 22,000 square miles from Fresno to the Mexican border, reaching more
than 550 communities through 5.9 million meters and 101,000 miles
of pipeline. More than 90 percent of Southern California single-family home
residents use natural gas for home heat and hot water. In addition,
natural gas plays a key role in providing electricity to
Californians—about 60 percent of electric power generated in the
state comes from gas-fired power plants.
SoCalGas has served communities in California for 150 years and is committed to
being a leader in the region's clean energy future. The company has
committed to spending $6 billion over
the next five years to modernize and upgrade its gas
infrastructure, while also reducing methane emissions. SoCalGas is
working to accelerate the use of renewable natural gas, a
carbon-neutral or carbon-negative fuel created by capturing and
conditioning greenhouse gas emissions from farms, landfills and
wastewater treatment plants. The company is a subsidiary of Sempra
Energy (NYSE: SRE), a Fortune 500 energy services holding company
based in San Diego. For more
information visit socalgas.com/newsroom or connect with SoCalGas on
Twitter (@SoCalGas), Instagram (@SoCalGas) and Facebook.
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SOURCE Southern California Gas Company