AE leak detection is the finding and quantification of through valve leakages via the very high frequency noise a leaking fluid generates. Score have been involved in the development and application of this technology since the 1990s and have built up significant experience in its use across the world in oil, gas and mining processes.

Acoustic Emissions Sensors can be used as both ultra-portable and permanently installed condition monitoring equipment. Both versions are non-invasive to the process and intrinsically safe certified, to ensure minimum disruption to plant operations.

The ultra-portable equipment is the MIDAS Meter® and this is used for troubleshooting, condition monitoring and for performance trending to allow maintenance engineers to move towards proactive and predictive maintenance, rather than having their time and resources consumed by unexpected in-service failure response.

The permanently installed and hard wired AE (Acoustic Emissions) MIDAS® Sensor, is designed to tie into existing SCADA (Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition) and plant operating systems or Score's integrated condition monitoring solution MIDAS® Diagnostic Systems.

Score have carried out surveys in the following applications:-

• Losses to vent or flare via PSVs, vent or blowdown valves
• Confirmation of PSV reseating after lift
• Losses around compressor recycle loops
• Detection of valve erosion in abrasive service
• Ensuring compliance with performance criteria on safety critical ESDVs

Score have demonstrated that the use of the AE technique brings quantifiable safety improvements, with on-going cost savings running to the $millions in terms of saved lost production and time benefits over alternative techniques.

The MIDAS® Valve Diagnostic range is the next generation in Acoustic Emissions (AE) valve leak detection equipment designed and manufactured by Score Diagnostics Limited. For further information on Midas® Valve Diagnostics; please click here.