Crane Valve Services, a Crane Co. company, says its open-flow ValveWatch ESD valve monitoring system, proven in the North Sea, helps boost oil and gas platform production.

ValveWatch patented technology actually listens to the flow of oil/gas at the most critical location of offshore platforms - the ESD (emergency shutdown) valves, the company says. The ValveWatch system sends the sounds of oil/gas flow to an onshore monitoring center, and translates them into images to signal smooth operations, caution, or alarm without any interruption to production.

“Production can be increased by performing leakage verification under open flow to eliminate test time with the valve closed, recovery time, and shut-ins. Production in the US, where leakage verification testing is required monthly, stands to benefit significantly,” says Kirk Kelhofer, president of Crane Valve Services.

The invention of the ValveWatch system began with pioneering work by Crane Valve Services in conjunction with Norwegian oil companies to develop technology to protect human life and the environment, reducing the risk of events like those contributing to the Piper Alpha disaster. Now, several oil and gas producers in Norway use the ValveWatch system to perform leakage verification, assess valve performance, and as a predictive maintenance tool that enables them to plan maintenance around specific problems.

The patented ValveWatch system uses dynamic pressure transducers installed in the flow path and the valve cavity, providing information necessary to evaluate leakage. A strain sensor on the ESD valve yoke or stem, combined with static pressure sensor installed on the actuator, provide information on actuator performance as well.

A prototype system was first developed in 2000, installed in 2001, and production hardened by 2003. The ValveWatch system has been installed on 26 valves in the North Sea. The second generation of ValveWatch, including a wireless option, will be available in 3Q 2005. •