Crane Valve Services (USA) has reported that its new open-flow ValveWatch® ESD valve monitoring system has been used successfully in the North Sea to help oil and gas platform production. ValveWatch patented technology listens to the flow of oil/gas at the most critical location of offshore platforms—the ESD (emergency shutdown) valves. 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.
The ValveWatch system can be used 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 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.
