Oil pipeline damage to be tracked by heat-sensing satellites
Damage to oil and gas pipelines and other energy infrastructure can be tracked in near real-time from space , using new heat-sensing images. The heat from damaged or leaking pipelines is detected and captured with infrared thermal imagery at high resolution from low-earth orbit satellites. This could be a flare that would lead to a bright light, or a break in the pipeline, or puddles of oil from…
Oil and gas pipelines can be monitored in near real-time using heat-sensing images captured by satellites orbiting Earth at low altitudes. These high-resolution images detect heat signatures from damaged or leaking pipelines, such as flares, breaks, or oil seeps. Saudi Arabia's Neo Space Group, through its UP-42 platform, is distributing these infrared thermal images.
Scott Herman, SatVu's chief technical officer, explained that the analysis of heat signatures can provide detailed insights into pipeline and facility conditions. HotSat-3, SatVu's latest satellite with 30 times more powerful infrared cameras than NASA's Landsat and the European Space Agency's Copernicus programmes, started publishing images in June.
These images have been used to monitor Saudi Aramco's East-West pipeline expansion and new export routes, as well as the impact of Iran's attacks on energy facilities in the Gulf. The images can reveal changes in operating modes, shutdowns, and reduced production capacity due to conflict. They also help assess the environmental impact on urban and industrial areas, providing valuable data for energy traders, urban planners, and policymakers.
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