Siemens Energy, ProFlex Partner On Leak Detection

Siemens Energy and Houston, Texas-based ProFlex Technologies have teamed up to provide spontaneous leak detection services for pipeline operators.

Per the agreement, Siemens Energy gains access to ProFlex Technologies’ digital Pipe-Safe leak detection technology. The technology, combined with Siemens Energy’s Internet of Things (IoT) system, will enable operators to reduce the environmental risks tied to leaks.

Siemens Energy’s IoT system uses remote pressure monitoring and data-processing algorithms to rapidly detect and localize pipeline leaks within 20 ft. (6.1 m) of their location. The system is ideally suited for companies with aging infrastructure, providing them with leak detection of virtually any liquid or gas type. Specific applications include long-distance oil and gas transmission lines, such as multi-node systems; production gathering networks at well sites; and offshore production risers.

The system’s algorithms are present at the monitoring nodes, which identify leaks through pressure pulses, while the algorithms use that data to determine leak location. This data can be transmitted to mobile devices or back to a central location using cloud-based technology.

The spontaneous leak detection as-a-service is immediately available from Siemens Energy, with the first implementations expected early next year.