Santos, one of Australia’s leading natural gas producers, operates an extensive network of Compressor stations located in remote and often difficult-to-access regions. These stations are critical for keeping the operational pressure across the transmission system but are unmanned by design, relying on automated monitoring and periodic field inspections.
Accessing these sites typically requires long-distance driving over unsealed roads, often in harsh weather and isolated conditions. This not only consumes significant operational time and resources but also introduces real safety risks for field personnel.
In many cases, minor sensor anomalies or transient alarm signals - which may not indicate actual gas leaks - have triggered mandatory site visits for manual verification. These routine drive-outs, while necessary under traditional protocols, have led to inefficient deployment of resources, increased vehicle emissions, and, most critically, unwarranted exposure to driving-related hazards such as fatigue, wildlife encounters, and limited access to emergency services. Reducing the frequency of these verification trips without compromising safety or compliance became a key operational priority for Santos.
Santos required a reliable, automated solution to remotely verify gas leak alarms and reduce unnecessary site visits, without compromising safety, compliance, or operational integrity. The system needed to perform in harsh, remote environments, provide continuous unattended monitoring, and reliably distinguish true gas events from environmental noise.
To meet these requirements, Santos deployed MetCam, CI Sensing’s fixed dual-band Optical Gas Imager (OGI), at five compressor sites in the Cooper Basin.
MetCam was selected for its proven ability to deliver:
- Unattended 24/7 operation in outdoor conditions
- Real-time visual confirmation of methane emissions
- Quantification capabilities to assess event severity
- Zone 1 / Class 1 Div 1 certification for safe deployment in hazardous areas
- Low power consumption and seamless integration with existing infrastructure
This strategic deployment enabled Santos to strengthen its remote monitoring capabilities while improving worker safety and operational efficiency.
Results
- Fewer site visits: Visual gas confirmation reduced the number of unnecessary site drives
- Faster response: Operations teams could remotely assess whether an alarm warranted action
- Improved safety: Reduced personnel exposure to remote or hazardous conditions
- Cost savings: Decreased fuel use and maintenance labor
- Environmental benefit: Lower carbon footprint through fewer vehicle dispatches