Wellhead Structural Vibration Monitoring (Upstream Integrity & Casing Protection) — ATEX

Identifies abnormal mechanical stress, prevents casing damage

Vibration

Quick Overview

Problem

Wellheads are exposed to continuous mechanical stress from flow turbulence, pressure fluctuations, thermal cycling, and external vibration sources. Excessive or abnormal vibration can lead to casing fatigue, flange loosening, seal degradation, or structural damage—often developing unnoticed in remote, ATEX-classified upstream environments until a leak, integrity failure, or shutdown occurs.

Solution

Sensa.io’s ATEX-certified wireless vibration sensors continuously monitor wellhead structural behaviour, detecting abnormal mechanical stress and vibration patterns early to protect casing integrity and ensure safe upstream operation.

Value

Protected wellhead integrity • Reduced leak risk • Lower intervention cost • Improved upstream safety

ATEX

Not always required (safe area buildings) • ATEX sensor variants available for classified zonesZones 0–2 • Ex ia IIC T4 Gb certified vibration sensors

The Operational Challenge

Wellheads are critical assets in upstream operations, including:

  • Oil and gas production wells
  • Gas lift and injection wells
  • Hydrogen-ready or renewable gas upstream infrastructure
  • Onshore and remote well pads

They operate under challenging mechanical conditions:

  • High-pressure flow-induced vibration
  • Cyclic loading from start/stop operations
  • Thermal expansion and contraction
  • Wind, equipment-induced, or ground-borne vibration

Common integrity risks include:

  • Excessive vibration leading to casing fatigue
  • Flange bolt loosening and seal degradation
  • Structural resonance amplifying mechanical stress
  • Progressive damage undetected between inspections

Traditional monitoring approaches rely on:

  • Periodic visual inspections
  • Manual integrity checks during site visits
  • Reactive investigation after alarms or leaks

This leaves long periods with no visibility into wellhead mechanical health.

Why Structural Vibration Monitoring Matters

Vibration is an early indicator of abnormal mechanical stress and structural degradation.

Continuous vibration monitoring enables operators to:

  • Detect abnormal stress before casing damage occurs
  • Identify vibration patterns linked to flow or pressure changes
  • Prevent progressive fatigue and structural failure
  • Reduce exposure of personnel to hazardous areas

For remote and ATEX-classified well sites, continuous monitoring provides critical early warning without frequent site access.

Sensa.io Solution

Sensa.io delivers a wireless, intrinsically safe vibration monitoring solution designed for upstream wellhead integrity.

Core Components

Vibration Sensor (ATEX Ex ia IIC T4 Gb)

Measures acceleration, velocity, and frequency signatures to identify abnormal structural vibration and mechanical stress on wellhead assemblies.

Wireless Communication

Supports LoRaWAN, Modbus, and MQTT for integration with upstream SCADA, integrity management, and condition monitoring platforms.

Installation & Power

Battery-powered clamp-on installation on wellhead structures, casing heads, or support frames — no cabling, no hot work, no production interruption.

Operational Benefits

  • Early detection of abnormal mechanical stress
  • Reduced risk of casing and flange damage
  • Fewer manual inspections in ATEX zones
  • Improved integrity assurance for remote wells

Results and ROI

Metric Before After
Vibration visibility Intermittent Continuous
Structural risk detection Late Early
Leak prevention Reactive Proactive
Inspection exposure High Reduced

ATEX Compliance and Safety

All vibration sensors for wellhead monitoring comply with:

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

The intrinsically safe design enables continuous monitoring on live wellheads in hazardous upstream environments.

Integration and compatibility

Protocols

LoRaWAN, Modbus RTU/TCP, MQTT, REST API

Systems

Upstream SCADA, integrity management systems, CMMS

Vendors

Siemens Energy, ABB, Schneider Electric, Honeywell

Cybersecurity

AES-128 encrypted communication

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.

Heading

By clicking "Book a technical demo" you're confirming that you agree with our Terms and Conditions.
Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Text Link
Browse other sectors
Explore

Explore Our Sensors

Valve position

The Sensa iO Valve Position Sensor provides real-time open/close feedback for manual and automated valves in oil & gas, chemical, and hydrogen operations.

Pressure

A rugged, industrial-grade pressure sensor designed for high-demand oil & gas applications. Provides continuous gas and liquid pressure monitoring, with ATEX intrinsic safety, IP67 housing, and LoRaWAN® connectivity.

Temperature

Sensa iO’s temperature sensor delivers precise temperature data for process lines, steam systems, heat exchangers, and storage assets.

Differential Pressure (ΔP)

A compact DP solution using dual synchronized pressure inputs to deliver accurate differential pressure data for filters, heat exchangers, separators, and manifolds.

Vibration

A high-resolution vibration sensor built for predictive maintenance of pumps, motors, compressors, and rotating equipment.

Acoustic

The Sensa iO acoustic sensor identifies ultrasonic leak signatures, gas escape, steam trap failures, and flare noise anomalies.

Trusted by a Worldwide Network

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