The qualification of distributed fiber optic sensing (DFOS) systems requires more than performance claims or controlled demonstrations. As outlined by the Fiber Optic Sensing Association (FOSA), validation testing is an “operator’s number one must-have ” to determine real-world system capabilities. Gold standard validation testing is defined as third-party, blind testing where the vendor has no knowledge of the event timing or location.
This blog explores the application of validation standards across several DFOS use cases, including pipeline leak detection, facility monitoring, and anomaly classification, each supported by independent and field-validated results from Hifi’s HDS™ system.
Pipeline Leak Detection Under Controlled Blind Testing
In a landmark blind validation program conducted by C-CORE and LOOKNorth (2016), Hifi’s system was subjected to randomized leak simulations using water and nitrogen in both damp soil and submerged conditions. Over 86 discrete test events were executed without prior notice to Hifi’s monitoring team, simulating a range of low-energy leak conditions (as low as 3 psi).
Results were definitive:
- 100% detection accuracy
- Zero false positives
- Detection maintained even when fiber was routed in conduit and offset up to 1.5 meters from the pipe
In addition to validating Hifi’s system sensitivity and spatial consistency, the testing also reinforced the necessity of blind methodologies to surface meaningful failure modes. This type of data is simply not available from verification tests.
Above-Ground Leak and Rupture Monitoring in Facility Environments
Validation standards extend beyond buried pipelines. In joint testing with Chevron, Hifi’s HDS platform was deployed on above-ground facilities, including layflat produced water lines and riser assemblies. Leak and rupture events were simulated under field conditions, with results demonstrating:
- Clear differentiation between standard leak and rupture signatures
- Real-time detection across non-buried infrastructure, a historically challenging application space for DFOS
- High data quality, enabling downstream ML model training for facility-specific pattern recognition
This field validation reaffirms that high-fidelity sensing must be evaluated at installation-specific scales and configurations to be trusted for operational use. API RP 1188 and POF 100-based guidelines are only relevant if the sensing system has demonstrated performance under blind, in-situ testing.
Pre-Leak Condition Monitoring and Anomaly Classification
The next evolution of DFOS performance testing involves validation of pre-leak anomaly detection. That is, identifying events that precede failure but do not constitute leaks. These may include:
- Strain hotspots near welds or fittings
- Deviations from baseline vibration, temperature, or acoustic profiles
- Material fatigue or soft-good deterioration
Hifi’s HDS platform, when integrated with ML-enabled strain, vibration, and temperature analytics, has shown the capability to flag these anomalies in advance of leak events.
Cumulative strain mapping over time can inform preventative maintenance schedules and support bowtie logic for loss-of-containment (LOC) risk mitigation.
True validation of this class of monitoring requires that DFOS systems capture and classify precursors without operator foreknowledge and across diverse operational scenarios—a bar only met through structured, blind evaluations.
Toward Formalization of a DFOS Validation Standard
Hifi supports the development of formal validation benchmarks across the industry, particularly those that address:
- Multivariate detection metrics (POD, POI, false positive rate)
- Installation-specific validation (e.g., conduits, offsets, submerged lines)
- Use-case stratification: leak detection vs. anomaly detection vs. facility monitoring
The success of Hifi’s HDS™ system in C-CORE, Chevron, and other third-party blind tests underlines the value of validation as both a qualification gate and a performance assurance tool.
Let’s Advance the Standard Together
If you are qualifying DFOS for any safety-critical application, validation is non-negotiable. Hifi welcomes collaboration with operators, standards bodies, and testing labs to formalize validation metrics and evolve DFOS deployment with confidence.
Contact us today to review Hifi’s validation datasets or to co-design a qualification test program aligned with FOSA standards and operational goals.