Methods of processing optical data generated by a distributed fiber optic sensing system that extends proximate hydrocarbon industrial infrastructure, and hydrocarbon industrial infrastructure that performs the methods

A method of processing optical data generated by a distributed fiber optic sensing system including a fiber optic cable that extends proximate hydrocarbon industrial infrastructure, the method comprising:

• repeatedly providing, to the fiber optic cable, an input optical signal;
• repeatedly receiving, from the fiber optic cable and responsive to the repeatedly providing, an output optical signal, wherein the output optical signal includes the optical data, which includes information regarding a local environment of the fiber optic cable as a function of position along a length of the fiber optic cable;
• generating an output data stream that is based, at least in part, on the output optical signal;
• comparing the output data stream to reference output data;
• detecting anomalous behavior by determining that a subset of the optical data within the output data stream differs from a corresponding subset of the optical data within the reference output data;
• responsive to the determining, analyzing the subset of the optical data;
• and
• downsampling the output data stream utilizing a predetermined decimation algorithm to generate a decimated output data stream.