Can This Smarter Tech Stop CO₂ Pipeline False Alarms?

Real-time monitoring tool improves detection accuracy ahead of tighter US safety rules

8 May 2025

A new real-time model designed for carbon dioxide pipelines has shown early promise in reducing false alarms, offering operators a timely solution as US regulators prepare stricter safety rules.

Unveiled at the 2025 Pipeline Simulation Interest Group conference, the system improves detection accuracy by modelling CO₂’s unique behaviour under pressure, an area where traditional oil and gas monitoring tools have struggled. Developers say the model has cut false alerts by double-digit margins in early tests, while still detecting genuine leaks.

Atmos International and Yokogawa, two major suppliers of pipeline monitoring systems, plan to integrate the technology into their future offerings. “We’re spotting real leaks sooner and avoiding panic over normal fluctuations,” said a systems engineer involved in field trials.

The advance coincides with new regulations from the US Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), which is preparing to enforce tighter leak detection and response standards. These rules form part of the agency’s broader efforts to improve the safety of carbon transport as carbon capture and storage (CCS) infrastructure expands.

Operators have long struggled with balancing sensitivity and reliability in CO₂ monitoring. Because compressed carbon dioxide behaves differently from hydrocarbons, conventional systems often misread pressure changes, resulting in unnecessary shutdowns and emergency responses.

The new model requires more detailed input data and greater computing power, but early adopters report that the gains in operational efficiency outweigh the technical costs. Fewer shutdowns can translate into reduced operating expenses and improved regulatory compliance.

As CCS projects scale across the Midwest and Gulf Coast, industry groups say such tools are key to building public confidence and investor support. Accurate leak detection not only improves safety but also strengthens the credibility of carbon pipelines as critical infrastructure in the US decarbonisation strategy.