Subsea Acoustic Anomaly Detection (Early Leak & Structural Event Detection) — ATEX

Fast underwater leak localization

Acoustic

Quick Overview

Problem

Subsea pipelines, risers, and structures operate in harsh, inaccessible environments. Small leaks, structural movements, or impact events often remain undetected until they escalate into major spills, integrity failures, or costly emergency interventions.

Solution

SENSAiO’s ATEX-certified acoustic sensors enable continuous subsea and near-subsea acoustic monitoring to detect early leak signatures, structural impacts, and abnormal acoustic events in real time.

Value

Early leak detection • Reduced environmental risk • Faster response • Lower intervention cost

ATEX

Zones 0–2 (topside / splash zone) • Ex ia IIC T4 Gb certified acoustic sensors

The Operational Challenge

Subsea assets include:

  • Export and flowline pipelines
  • Risers and jumpers
  • Subsea manifolds and tie-ins
  • Structural supports and protection frames

These assets face:

  • Corrosion and erosion
  • Fatigue due to currents and vortex-induced vibration
  • External impacts (anchors, dropped objects)
  • Progressive seal or weld degradation

Traditional subsea monitoring relies on:

  • Periodic ROV inspections
  • Pressure balance and mass-flow analysis
  • Visual confirmation after alarms

These methods are intermittent, expensive, and often detect problems after significant escalation.

Why Subsea Acoustic Monitoring Matters

Fluid escape, structural impacts, and abnormal movements generate distinct acoustic signatures that propagate efficiently through steel and seawater.

Continuous acoustic monitoring enables operators to:

  • Detect micro-leaks before pressure loss is measurable
  • Identify impact or structural movement events
  • Localise anomalies by correlating signal timing and intensity
  • Reduce reliance on reactive ROV inspections

Acoustic monitoring is one of the few technologies capable of providing early-warning insight for subsea integrity events.

SENSAiO Solution

SENSAiO delivers a wireless acoustic monitoring solution designed for subsea-adjacent and offshore deployment.

Core Components

Acoustic Sensor (ATEX Ex ia IIC T4 Gb)

Wide-frequency detection optimised for leak noise, impact events, and structural acoustic transmission.

Wireless Communication

Supports LoRaWAN, Modbus, and MQTT for integration with offshore SCADA and integrity platforms (topside or subsea gateway architecture).

Installation & Power

Battery-powered clamp-on installation on risers, splash-zone piping, or structural interfaces — no hot work required.

Operational Benefits

  • Early detection of subsea leaks
  • Faster localisation of abnormal events
  • Reduced environmental exposure
  • Lower inspection and intervention cost

Results and ROI

Metric Before After
Leak detection Late Early
Environmental impact Higher Reduced
ROV inspection frequency High Reduced
Response time Slow Immediate

ATEX Compliance and Safety

All acoustic sensors for subsea-adjacent monitoring comply with:

  • Ex II 2 G Ex ia IIC T4 Gb (Zones 0–2 for splash zone and topside)
  • IECEx certification
  • ATEX Directive 2014/34/EU

The intrinsically safe design supports safe deployment in hazardous offshore environments without shutdown.

Integration and compatibility

Protocols

LoRaWAN, Modbus RTU/TCP, MQTT, REST API

Systems

SCADA, pipeline integrity management, digital twin platforms

Vendors

Honeywell, ABB, Siemens, Emerson

Cybersecurity

AES-128 encrypted communication with secure transport

FAQ - Common Questions

Are Sensa.io sensors compatible with any gateway or network?

Yes, they connect to any LoRaWAN or MQTT infrastructure (Kerlink, Cisco, Milesight, MultiTech, etc.) for flexible integration with existing SCADA systems.

What ATEX certifications apply to Sensa.io devices?

All hazardous-area models are certified Ex II 2 G Ex ia IIC T4 Gb and IECEx approved for Zones 0–2.

What is the typical battery life?

Up to 10 years at 15-minute intervals, depending on signal strength and environment.

How are the sensors integrated into existing systems?

Through standard protocols — LoRaWAN, Modbus, MQTT, REST API — no proprietary middleware needed.

How does predictive maintenance reduce OPEX?

Early anomaly detection reduces emergency interventions by 30–40 %, extends equipment life and lowers energy costs.

What does the Sensa.io Valve Position Sensor actually measure?

The device detects real-time valve position states—open, closed, or intermediate—with high accuracy. It continuously sends this information wirelessly to your monitoring dashboard.

Can this sensor detect partial valve movement or stuck valves?

Yes. The sensor identifies irregular patterns such as partial movement, delayed response, or stuck valves, enabling early maintenance before failure occurs.

Is this sensor suitable for manual, motorized, and actuated valves?

Yes. It supports a wide range of valve types including ball, gate, butterfly, actuator-driven, and manual valves.

How fast does it update the valve position?

You can configure the reporting interval—from seconds to minutes—depending on your operational and battery needs.

How long does installation take?

Most installations take under 10 minutes. The sensor mounts using brackets or clamps without modifying existing valves.

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With partners in over 20 countries, Sensa IO delivers rugged sensor solutions to the toughest environments — everywhere.