ExxonMobil licenses InteliRed

The InteliRed system was designed to improve process safety and environmental performance at oil refineries, chemical plants, liquefied natural gas (LNG) facilities and other gas processing facilities, said the company.

It employs a computer algorithm to autonomously analyse infrared camera images to detect escaping hydrocarbon gases, providing an early warning alert of hydrocarbon leaks with minimal false alarms.

Providence Photonics is an affiliate of Providence Engineering headquartered in US.

Our collaboration … has resulted in a remote gas detection system that is very accurate and capable of operating in harsh environments

ExxonMobil’s Sara Ortwein

ExxonMobil and Providence scientists co-developed the InteliRed system over a four-year period culminating in field tests of the system that began last year at an LNG liquefaction plant in Qatar, said Sara Ortwein, president of ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company.

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

“Our collaboration with the imaging experts at Providence Photonics has resulted in a remote gas detection system that is very accurate and, with its robust design, is capable of operating in the harsh environments of many different oil and gas processing facilities around the world,” she said.

“This system automatically and relentlessly scans for hydrocarbon gas leaks from process equipment and notifies operators to take action before the leak can become a hazard,” said Yousheng Zeng, Providence managing partner.

“Our global license from ExxonMobil enables Providence to bring this unique process safety technology to our customers around the world.”