International partnership develops new real-time lubricant monitoring system

Baker Hughes, a GE Company (BHGE) have recently announced an agreement with Emirates National Oil Company (ENOC) to co-develop VitalyX*, a real-time lubricant monitoring system. VitalyX can be deployed in multiple industries using large machinery, and the advanced cloud-based system is designed to detect and measure key lubricant properties in real-time while simultaneously converting the data into actionable insights. ENOC, which will not only co-develop but has also signed the first order for VitalyX, announced the project with BHGE leaders at BHGE’s Annual Meeting in Florence, with more than 1,100 customers in attendance.

Lubrication oil is the lifeblood of many machines and assets, and it not only protects those assets but also can be used to determine the overall health of a system. Real-time monitoring of lubricants also helps safeguard end users’ and operators’ equipment by offering a new level of predictive maintenance, thus enhancing efficiency, reducing downtime and improving asset’s lifetime. Without continuous monitoring, catastrophic failures due to fluid issues are a reality; for example, the cumulative cost of a top drive gearbox failure due to fluid loss can be up to $1 million dollars.

VitalyX’s advanced cloud-based solution can measure key lubricant chemical and physical properties in real time across an operator’s fleet while simultaneously converting the data into alerts and alarms to identify potential issues. The user-friendly dashboard can show fleet-wide data down to the individual asset level and stored either in a shared cloud or locally.

“Digitisation is playing an integral role in in driving the transformation of the energy sector, and has contributed significantly to enhancing operational efficiency,” said Saif Al Falasi, ENOC Group CEO. “We believe that our agreement with BHGE - will play a key role in revolutionising lubricant quality testing and physical asset management. We at ENOC are pleased to have been able to work with BHGE on the development of this innovation and look forward to developing many other projects in the near future.”

“Our joint focus on lubricant monitoring is a critical and essential element towards making industries safer and more efficient,” said Diarmaid Mulholland, CEO of BHGE’s Measurement & Sensing business. “Our co-development of VitalyX with ENOC not only ensures we deliver technology that works in real-world extreme conditions but also has proven experience in the field. This technology is a prime example of the Industrial Internet of Things in action – hardware and software working seamlessly together, taking sensor data to deliver new insights we could never achieve before. We are excited for this journey with ENOC and many more customers to come.”