CALGARY, Alberta, Nov. 23, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Hifi Engineering Inc. (“Hifi”), a developer and supplier of leading edge fiber optic sensing technologies used to monitor gas and fluid flow in pipelines and oil and gas wells, Plains Midstream Canada (“Plains”) whom owns, operates, acquires and develops a diversified portfolio of complementary midstream energy assets, and Baker Hughes, a GE company (“BHGE”), a provider of integrated oilfield products, services and digital solutions, today announced the Vigilant control room software installed in the Plains control room to monitor Plains’ pipelines in real time using Hifi’s HDS technology.
In 2016, Plains collaborated with Hifi to deploy their fiber optic based, high fidelity distributed sensing (HDS™) monitoring system at some pipeline locations. The system works by monitoring high definition acoustic energy, strain, vibrations and temperature. Plains is now working with Hifi and BHGE, to deploy an enhanced presentation software system for the HDS monitoring in the Plains Control Centre.
The new system, called Vigilant™ and powered by GE Predix™, allows for real time events and alarms to be sent to the control room, including valuable multimedia data such as acoustic recordings from the specific site of the event detected. Events could include a leak event, security intrusions, as well as abnormal strain and vibrations. This allows Plains to determine potential issues on the pipeline, with improved accuracy, and in real time. On July 7th, the HDS and Vigilant system detected an earthquake event with a magnitude 5.2 (as well as a subsequent aftershock) where the epicenter was over 300KM away from the Plains pipeline being monitored.
“We are very pleased to be working with BHGE, and rolling out Vigilant with Hifi’s HDS technology for Plains”, said Steven Koles, Hifi’s President and Chief Executive Officer. “Adding such a high end industrial Internet application platform integrates well with the performance of the HDS technology, and can support the industry in achieving 100% pipeline safety.”
“Plains Midstream Canada has been very pleased with the performance of the Hifi HDS systems we’ve deployed”, said Caitlin Heinen, Pipeline Integrity with Plains. “The new Vigilant interface is a further enhancement to the current monitoring applications used in our Control Centre, which is a key piece in the safe operations of our pipelines”.
The Vigilant product offering utilizes GE’s Predix system to provide an “Edge to Cloud platform” that securely brings event data to the pipeline operator’s control room in real time. The versatility and power of Vigilant will allow this product to expand its capabilities to include other applications such as pig detection and tracking, as well as other forms of process and event monitoring.
About Hifi Engineering
Hifi Engineering is a privately held Canadian company, with minority ownership from Enbridge and Cenovus, specializing in the research, development, supply and commercial operation of next generation fiber optic sensing technologies primarily used to monitor gas and fluid flow in oil and gas wells, and preventative leak detection for pipelines. Headquartered in Calgary, Alberta, Hifi currently has a number of commercialized products, including its HDS™ MiCro tool offering for downhole flow applications, and HDS™ MaCro system for permanent monitoring of pipelines and reservoirs. For more information, visit www.hifieng.com.
Contact:
Steven Koles
(403) 264 - 8930
skoles@hifieng.com
About Plains Midstream Canada (Plains)
Plains is an industry leading transportation and midstream provider. We specialize in transportation, storage, processing and marketing solutions for crude oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids (NGLs). Plains links petroleum producers with refiners and other customers via pipeline, truck and rail transportation. We also operate strategically located facilities for crude oil and NGL storage, separation of NGL from natural gas and fractionation of NGL into specification products. With our expertise in logistics and marketing services, we are positioned to provide our customers with flexible, value-added services.
Contact:
Plains Media Relations
1-866-754-7422
media@plainsmidstream.com
About Baker Hughes, a GE Company
Baker Hughes, a GE company (NYSE:BHGE) is the world’s first and only fullstream provider of integrated oilfield products, services and digital solutions. We deploy minds and machines to enhance customer productivity, safety and environmental stewardship, while minimizing costs and risks at every step of the energy value chain. With operations in over 120 countries, we infuse over a century of experience with the spirit of a startup – inventing smarter ways to bring energy to the world.
Contact:
Ken Holditch
(403) 923-3680
Ken.holditch@bhge.com