Case Study: Upstream Oil and Gas Facility prevents unplanned downtime and restores engine performance with GE Digital SmartSignal

Dirt Accumulation Found On Combustion Engine Check Valves At An Upstream Oil And Gas Facility

Upstream Oil And Gas Facility faced dirt accumulation on combustion engine check valves that produced spiking cylinder exhaust temperatures. GE Digital’s analytics—using the GE SmartSignal solution and its Industrial Performance & Reliability Center (IPRC)—detected the anomaly, flagging an exhaust temperature spread as high as 572°F (300°C) versus expected values near 86°F (30°C) for review.

GE Digital’s IPRC alerted the customer, who investigated and found the check valves needed cleaning (not a coil or spark plug issue); the valves were cleaned during the next planned shutdown. After the intervention, exhaust temperatures returned to normal, preventing unplanned downtime and preserving engine performance—outcomes directly attributed to GE Digital’s early detection and monitoring.