Feature

Precision under pressure: Radar sensors for challenging offshore applications

Accurate and reliable measurements are essential to some of the world’s most complex and challenging applications. Sectors like offshore drilling, liquified natural gas (LNG) and chemical operations face volatile conditions, including extreme temperatures, corrosive substances, and constant mechanical and environmental stresses. Here, David Strain, Technical Director of Technidrive, explains the importance of robust and resilient sensor technologies in these harsh environments.

03/11/2025 16:15:52

Font size:

Offshore drilling remains vital to meeting global energy demands, by accessing oil and gas reserves located deep beneath the ocean floor. However, these operations are remote, complex and hazardous, which
makes accurate monitoring essential for ensuring operational efficiency – and also safety.

Take the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, for instance, one of the worst environmental disasters
in US history. An explosion aboard an offshore drilling platform occurred due to a series of failures, including ineffective monitoring, faults in the alarm system, and incorrect gas pressure test readings.
Overall, this incident can be attributed to poor risk management.

In the years since the Deepwater Horizon incident, regulations around real-time data, well monitoring and testing have tightened to keep offshore operations
safe and efficient. To this end, advanced sensor technologies play a vital role in helping operators meet these requirements, and safeguard both people and the environment.

Read the full article in DPA's November 2025 issue

Written By Sophia Bell

Sophia Bell is the Group Editor of DPA, Connectivity, and PBSI. She joined the team in 2020 as Assistant Editor after achieving a First-Class Honours BA in English Literature and Film Studies from the University of East Anglia. In her current role, she leads the editorial strategy, driving digital growth and ensuring each title continues to deliver trusted, relevant insight for engineering and manufacturing professionals.