PipeSense Tests CO₂ Pipeline Leak Detection System in Texas

PipeSense has completed testing of a leak detection system for supercritical CO₂ pipelines in Texas, targeting faster monitoring and improved safety for expanding carbon capture infrastructure.

(P&GJ) — PipeSense has completed field testing of a leak detection system designed for dense-phase and supercritical CO₂ pipelines, marking a step toward expanding monitoring technology for growing carbon capture and storage (CCS) infrastructure.

The system was tested on a 12-mile CO₂ pipeline segment in South Texas operating at roughly 2,000 psi. According to PipeSense, the technology was able to detect leaks within two to three minutes while pinpointing locations within about 20 feet during a five-month testing period.

The company used a Dynamic Pressure Analysis (DPA) approach that relies on pressure sensors positioned at each end of the pipeline. PipeSense said the system was designed to address operational challenges specific to supercritical CO₂ pipelines, including pressure variability and changing flow conditions that can complicate traditional leak detection models.

PipeSense President and CTO Stuart Mitchell said conventional real-time monitoring systems can struggle with the rapidly changing properties of supercritical CO₂, increasing the risk of false alarms. He said the company’s pressure-based approach is intended to improve monitoring reliability as CCS pipeline networks expand.

The company said it plans additional testing and deployment efforts as the U.S. CO₂ pipeline network continues to grow alongside carbon capture projects.