ExxonMobil awards first gas detection system licence to Providence

ExxonMobil has awarded the first commercial licence for its remote gas detection system to its US-based co-developer Providence Photonics.

The InteliRed system employs a specially developed computer algorithm that has been designed to improve process safety and environmental performance at oil refineries, chemical plants, liquefied natural gas (LNG) facilities as well as other gas processing facilities.

The algorithm helps to autonomously analyse infrared camera images in order to detect escaping hydrocarbon gases.

According to the company, the gas detection system automatically scans for hydrocarbon gas leaks from process equipment and provides an early warning alert of hydrocarbon leaks with minimal false alarms to operators.

The InteliRed system has been co-developed by ExxonMobil and Providence scientists over a four-year period, culminating in field tests of the system that began at an LNG liquefaction plant in Qatar in 2013.

ExxonMobil president Sara Ortwein said that the remote gas detection system is accurate and has the capability to operate in the harsh environments of many different oil and gas processing facilities globally.

"The InteliRed system is the latest example of ExxonMobil’s continuous focus on process safety and environmental protection," Ortwein added.

Providence managing partner Yousheng Zeng said: "Our global license from ExxonMobil enables Providence to bring this unique process safety technology to our customers around the world."

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Image: The ExxonMobil office in Downtown Houston. Photo: courtesy of WhisperToMe.