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HDS leak detection technology by Hifi Engineering proven 100% accurate

Hifi Engineering, a developer of fibre optic sensing technologies, has released the results of its high-fidelity dynamic sensing HDS leak detection technology as part of a testing programme.

The programme was funded by LOOKNorth, a national Centre of Excellence for Commercialization and Research hosted by C-CORE, a Canadian R&D corporation.

The C-CORE results proved the Hifi HDS system successfully detected all leaks generated during the tests, with no false positives in real time.

Operating pressures ranged from 195psi down to 3psi, for both liquids and gas, in both offshore and land applications.

"We are very pleased with the performance of our HDS technology", said John Hull, founder and chief technology officer at Hifi.

"To achieve 100% performance with no false positives proves our technology is world class, and ready to assist the [oil and gas] industry in achieving 100% pipeline safety. These results reaffirm the performance also demonstrated through Hifi's many field pilots and commercial installations."

Hifi's HDS high definition technology monitors every centimetre of a pipeline, 24 hours per day, and can detect flows less than a litre within seconds.

It includes proprietary fibre optic cables optimised for sensing, as well as optical hardware and software for permanent deployment and continuous monitoring.

The patented software algorithms are designed to correlate acoustic, temperature and vibration/strain data in real-time to discern operating conditions such as excessive strain, thermal events, and security intrusions that – if left unaddressed – could evolve into a leak in the pipeline.

The HDS system can also detect extremely low flow and pinhole-sized leaks, with the ability to alarm and notify the pipeline operator in seconds through a control room software powered by GE Predix.

Hifi has been working with Enbridge's pipeline control systems and leak detection team to evaluate the HDS technology, along with other joint industry partners Kinder Morgan Canada and TransCanada Pipelines, through C-FER Technologies' external leak detection system evaluation programme in Edmonton.

The positive performance of the HDS system comes on the successful completion of the previously announced project investment between Hifi and Sustainable Development Technology Canada (SDTC), on behalf of the Canadian government.

The project from SDTC's SD Tech Fund was C$2 million (€1.4m), as part of a C$6 million development initiative of Hifi's next generation technology for preventative pipeline leak detection.

"The HDS technology has the potential to reduce the incidence of leaks, and increase the confidence of the public in our pipeline system in Canada", said Leah Lawrence, president and CEO at SDTC.

"HiFi Engineering's technology is proof of the importance of investing in energy innovation", said Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science, and Economic Development.

"Our government is proud to support Canadian companies that are focused on developing clean technologies. Clean technology producers will create entirely new jobs and business opportunities for Canadians. That's how innovation makes a better Canada," Bains concluded.





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