Customer-driven Product Development is Senscient's Mission,
Jean Berthold, CMSO 

Senscient is pleased to announce a new product configuration for high level H2S detection and monitoring.  The primary application motivating this new configuration is the need for continuous reliable monitoring of FPSO turret vent gases.  We realize and appreciate that our customers are the best source for the direction of our marketing and product development efforts. 

Series 2000 ELDS OPGD for Hydrogen Sulfide is now available with an Extended Measurement Range of 0-15,000 ppm.m for H2S gas detection and monitoring.  The application cited for this extended range capability is to continuously monitor the effluent from a series of pressurized Purge and Vent valves at the top of an FPSO's Turret.  The venting of gases from the turret valves is a planned and consistent operation for the FPSO.  And the level of H2S gas exiting these venting valves, if located anywhere within the vicinity of the FPSO personnel, could in fact be of very high concentrations immediately dangerous to their personnel.

These Series 2000 ELDS OPGD systems are being installed at the Turrets of these FPSO facilities where H2S is vented on planned schedules throughout their drilling operations.  Levels upwards of 5,000 to 10,000 ppm have been reported in the vented gases. These installations are SHORT distance of as little as 3.5-6 meters  and  require an extended measurement range for ELDS of 0-15,000 ppm.m over their approximately 5 meter beam path.

The results of various 3-D modeling have shown that if the H2S concentration in the vented gas stream is measuring < 1,000 ppm, then the hazard for the decks of the ship is very low in the face of wind velocities, direction of the winds, and dispersion characteristics of the vented gas.  However, as the concentration increases through and above the 5,000 ppm levels, the hazard becomes much more dangerous for any personnel onboard.

In addition to the planned venting of H2S gases, a separate purge valve at one end of the Turret may be present that has the potential for slow leaks of vent gases with both methane and H2S present in as much as a 50/50 ratio. 

In response to this identified application, Senscient now offers the extended measurement range for H2S detection of 0 to 15,000 ppm.meter in both the Series 2000 ELDS system for H2S and the Series 2000 ELDS OPGD for simultaneous and discreet dual gas measurement of both H2S and Methane.  These extended measurement range OPGD systems have the same advanced technology features and benefits as any of our other ELDS product offerings, with confirmation that by increasing the measurement range, the systems perform with the same or better accuracy and tolerance of misalignment and obscuration as our standard system configurations.  Please check with your local Senscient representative or contact Senscient at info@senscient.com for additional detail.

Senscient Corporate Overview, Richard Giffhorn, CEO 

Senscient was founded in January, 2004 by Mr. Lee Richman, to develop, manufacture, and market the first new gas detection technology for industrial safety applications in more than 20 years, "Enhanced Laser Diode Spectroscopy" (ELDSTM). 

We launched our first ELDS-based Open Path Gas Detection systems in the fourth quarter of 2010 after five years of commercialization, safety agency certifications, and production optimization for the products. Since June of 2009, in-field evaluations and competitive technology comparisons have been performed by a number of gas detection experts in our industry. We're very proud that Senscient's ELDS OPGD systems are now being designed into offshore platforms, FPSO's, refineries and chemical plants for deployment by almost every major Oil & Gas company in the world.

 During the first quarter of 2011, we've seen orders for all our products increase dramatically for the sensitive and reliable detection of Methane and/or H2S.   Mr. Richman continues to work on the expansion of Senscient's ELDS technology with plans for the development and launch of new product configurations including Ammonia, Hydrogen Fluoride, Carbon Dioxide, Propane, Butane, Ethylene and more throughout this year and beyond.

Our electro-optical device engineering and modular assembly manufacturing is being conducted at our wholly-owned subsidiary, Senscient, Ltd, based in the United Kingdom. Our Sales, Marketing, and Finance Operations are located in Houston, Texas, where we have easy access to our Oil & Gas customers' technology centers. 

We continue to expand our team in every department to most effectively support our customers' needs in sales, technical support, and production as we grow. Our Founders' dream of Fulfilling the Promise of Open Path Gas Detection has come true and I am grateful for the opportunity here in our Newsletter to thank all our customers, selling partners, investors, and advisors who have contributed so significantly to Senscient's success.

Lime Rock Partners Investment

Senscient, Inc. announced this month that the company has secured a significant investment to support the global deployment of it's multi-gas detection system. The technology detects combustible and toxic gases and significantly increases the level of safety at industrial sites. Lime Rock Partners, a global energy-focused private equity firm, led the investment and was joined by existing investors Emerald Technology Ventures and Yellowstone Energy Ventures.

"Senscient offers a very compelling value proposition to its customers.  ELDS systems are fast, reliable, sensitive, simple to install and result in significant savings in total cost of operation," said Rajat Barua, Vice President of Lime Rock Partners.  "The technology is unique, qualified by major customers and certified in key international markets.  We have been very impressed by the high caliber team of employees at Senscient and look forward to working closely with the company to implement strategies that will accelerate growth."

To read the complete story: Senscient Press Release

Senscient Installations and Applications

Enhanced Laser Diode Spectroscopy (ELDSTM) is a new form of laser diode spectroscopy that significantly increases the sensitivity and reliability of laser-diode-based gas detection and measurement, even in extreme environments.

As opposed to traditional 2nd derivative absorption signal integration, ELDS uses Harmonic Fingerprinting to achieve the earliest possible detection of gas leaks without false alarms.

A Harmonic Fingerprint is a specific set of harmonic components introduced by target gas absorption where the relative amplitudes and phases of the components of the absorption line are known and unique to the target gas.

The operating wavelength of the laser diode is constantly and precisely regulated by passing a small fraction of its output through a retained sample of the target gas inside the transmitter, then measuring the resulting signal at a reference detector inside the transmitter.

Using this signal from the reference detector channel and the internal target gas sample, the transmitter's microcontroller determines the precise bias and wavelength modulation components that must be applied to the laser diode(s) to ensure the laser operation conditions always produces the unique Harmonic Fingerprint of the target gas. When the laser diode drive conditions are consistently maintained, and the target gas absorption always produces the Harmonic Fingerprint of the target gas, the ELDS system can always reliably distinguish between a genuine target gas and any non-target-gas effects or atmospheric interferences.

The size of each Harmonic Fingerprint component is a precise, constant physical property of that target gas. Therefore, the ELDS system is able to identify and report the concentration any given amount of target gas in a gas plume within the monitored path.

This patented advanced Harmonic Fingerprint technique holds the key to the system's no false alarm reliability and its low ppm-level sensitivity to hazardous gases.  The benefit for our customers is that finally, a gas detection system can provide early warnings of gas leak hazards and facilitate remedial action that effectively avoids a catastrophic event.

Harmonic Fingerprint

Westpark's Role with Senscient

Senscient is committed to providing outstanding customer service whenever or wherever you may need it.  Partnering with Westpark Communications allows our customers 24 hour live access , 7 days a week, including weekends and holidays. Westpark is the leading national call center located in Houston and has been providing outstanding personal service since 1968. They use extensively trained, highly experienced telephone service representatives who are prompt and courteous with an average response time of less than two rings.

Senscient's account is programmed with an organizational chart so that all inquiries, whether it is a technical question from an existing customer, an application question from a new customer, or a sales and marketing question, get directed to the appropriate person within Senscient immediately. Westpark is also linked in with the Senscient website to capture any emails that come through requesting information. These emails are turned around immediately and sent out to our MARCOM manager for disbursement to the correct Senscient department for follow up action.

Our customers are very important to us and together, with Westpark Communications, we strive to serve you quickly and efficiently. Please feel confident that when you call     1-877-eSimugas, there will be a representative available to help you.

For additional information about Westpark Communications visit www.westparkcom.net.