Abstract: The paper describes the property and basic design principle of intelligent tape detection system used in long distance pipeline and respectively introduces the structure of coating tape layers, the method to increase the detecting and locating accuracy for forced leakage and the connection method of the coating tapes. The case analysis of intelligent detection is made in four aspects, that is, double-wire tape single return circuit, double-wire coating single return circuit, four-wire tape double return circuit and grouping or sectioning. The results of field testing show that this system can give alarm for damaged coating with 60 second with a 1‰-9‰ two-direction locating accuracy.