Why Your Site Needs a High-Temperature Vibrating Wire Piezometer

A piezometer is a key part of any geotechnical monitoring plan. However, it is important to select a sensor that can perform accurately and reliably in your site’s environment.

In Western Australia’s more extreme industrial and resources settings, high-temperature conditions can make standard sensors unreliable or prone to drift. That’s where the high-temperature vibrating wire piezometer (VWP) comes in. Purpose-built to withstand elevated temperatures, these sensors offer accurate pore pressure data even when exposed to heat from buried infrastructure, geothermal gradients or tailings storage facilities.

In this article, we explain when a high-temperature VWP is necessary and how Monitel incorporates them into our structural monitoring systems.

What Is a High-Temperature Vibrating Wire Piezometer?

A high-temperature VWP functions the same way as a standard vibrating wire piezometer, using a tensioned wire and diaphragm to measure changes in pore water pressure. Where they differ is in their construction.

High-temperature VWPs are manufactured with heat-resistant materials and reinforced internal components, allowing them to perform reliably and accurately in temperatures up to 250°C. These sensors also maintain signal integrity under thermal stress, making them suitable for long-term, automated monitoring in locations where conditions would compromise other sensor types.

When Are High-Temperature VWPs Needed?

In projects where ground or fluid temperatures exceed the standard operating ranges of standard piezometers, a high-temperature sensor is essential. Common applications include:

1. Tailings Dam Facilities

Tailings dams can experience elevated temperatures due to chemical reactions, solar exposure or underlying geological conditions. Elevated pore pressure and heat can combine to reduce stability, increasing the risk of dam wall deformation or failure. High-temp VWPs offer accurate pore pressure data in these critical zones, helping operators meet the requirements of the Mines Safety and Inspection Regulations 1995 and WHS (Mines) Regulations 2022.

2. Buried Industrial Infrastructure

In WA’s energy and water sectors, buried pipelines and tanks may generate or retain heat, particularly in remote, arid regions. Monitoring the soil conditions surrounding these structures often requires sensors that can withstand the high ambient and subsurface temperatures common in WA’s regions.

3. Geothermal Projects and Deep Boreholes

Projects tapping into geothermal heat or those with deep borehole infrastructure may encounter naturally high temperatures. Opting for a high-temperature VWP will ensure that pore pressure measurements remain reliable, even when installed hundreds of metres below ground.

4. Preload Zones with Accelerated Settlement

When preload or surcharge strategies are used in hot conditions (for example, on shadeless industrial sites), standard piezometers may degrade over time. High-temp VWPs offer a resilience against these elements, assisting projects affected by vertical loading and thermal influence.

Benefits of High-Temperature VWPs

• Thermal resilience: Maintains accuracy in elevated temperature zones.
• Long-term stability: Suitable for continuous monitoring across months or years.
• Signal integrity: Resistant to noise or degradation caused by heat and moisture.
• Remote compatibility: Easily integrated with wireless loggers and telemetry systems.

Ambient and subsurface heat is a primary concern for many Western Australian projects. Robust and capable of high performance in extreme conditions, this sensor class can be the difference between early detection and unexpected failure.

How Monitel Implements High-Temp VWPs

At Monitel, our planning and investigation process includes an assessment of site-specific thermal risks. Where needed, we will complete the installation of a high temperature vibrating wire piezometer as part of a broader geotechnical monitoring plan.

Our team handles design, installation, telemetry integration and ongoing data interpretation to ensure your sensor selection aligns with site conditions and regulatory obligations.

High-temperature VWPs often form part of our:

• Tailings dam monitoring systems
• Borehole instrumentation programs
• Settlement tracking and pre-load assessment tools

Monitel primarily deploys the VWPHT-3600, which boasts a pressure range up to 34.5 MPa and 3K and 10K thermistor options.

However, we pride ourselves on being brand and product agnostic, meaning we will always opt for the sensor best suited to your project and budget. We will never prioritise any brand allegiance.

Speak With Monitel About Sensor Selection

If you are unsure whether your project needs a high-temperature or standard vibrating wire piezometer, we’re here to help. Monitel works closely with geotechnical engineers and project managers to design and implement compliant, efficient monitoring solutions across WA.

For more information about vibrating wire piezometer installation, pricing and data, you can contact us at admin@monitel.com.au or call (08) 6219 8284 to speak with our team.