Energy

Interface force measurement solutions are used in every facet of energy production from research and exploration, to monitoring equipment especially our Oil Gas Energy Sensors. Load cells and torque transducers assist oil, gas, wind, coal, solar, and emerging energy companies to fuel the world.

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oil, gas, wind, coal, and solar applications

Energy Overview

Interface force measurement solutions are used in every facet of energy production from research and exploration, to monitoring equipment especially our oil and gas energy sensors. Load cells and torque transducers assist oil, gas, wind, coal, solar, and emerging energy companies to fuel the world. When our petroleum customers came to us requesting load cells that could withstand up to 30,000 psi and 500°F, we met the challenge with custom application-specific solutions.

Harsh Environments

Our moment and temperature compensated LowProfile™ load cells use proprietary alloy strain gages to provide the most accurate readings possible in the harshest environments, such as downhole drilling, wirelines, pipelines, and wind turbines. Interface tests every LowProfile™ load sensor for accuracy and temperature specifications, and moment compensates each unit to minimize sensitivity to extraneous loads. Using eight proprietary strain gages per sensor, our 4mV/V output which exceeds most other load cell performance specifications.

Windmill Energy

Our torque transducers have been used in instances for windmill energy. A customer wanted to improve their windmill by monitoring the torque being created by the windmills power ramps. Installing our T2 Ultra Precision Shaft Style Rotary Torque Transducer between the windmill propeller and the electric generator of the windmill, it resulted in accurate testing. Shaft Style Torque Transducer Couplings were also installed to ensure stability. This resulted in our customer being able to determine the optimal blade pitch for their windmill, thus being able to generate more energy.

With a variety of load cells, load buttons, force transducers, torque transducers and other Oil Gas Energy Sensors available, our applications engineers can help you design a measurement solution for your energy production needs.

Interface Pressure Compensated Downhole Load Cell

The downhole environment poses many challenges for well-drillers, operators, tool-string designers, and other engineers in the oil and gas industry. Obtaining accurate force measurements poses some real challenges in certain use cases based on the sensor technologies used and while these types of solutions are available, they fall short in performance, reliability, or capability. For example, the oil and gas industry has used “wet” load cells to monitor forces on their downhole load strings. These downhole load strings are equipped with a variety of sensors, and they travel down thousands of feet during exploratory drilling operations. The problem with wet load cells is that they don’t hold up for extended use in wells that extend several thousand feet underground and where there are extreme pressures and temperatures in a caustic environment. To address this issue, Interface created a “dry” load cell that protects the sensitive parts with innovative design, reduces the number of sensors required in the customer’s downhole load string, and allows the load cell to last 10 years or more.

Hazardous Locations

Energy production facilities often operate in risky conditions in the industrial world. From coal mines and petroleum refineries to offshore platforms, these environments demand precision equipment engineered to operate in dangerous environments.

In energy-producing settings, whether oil and gas or renewables, force measurement devices must not only deliver accurate data but do so safely, reliably, and in compliance with stringent global safety standards.

Hazardous energy sector locations are typically classified by their explosive risk level:

Zone 0 – An explosive gas or dust atmosphere is continuously present.
Zone 1 – An explosive atmosphere is likely during normal operation.
Zone 2 – An explosive atmosphere is not likely but may occur during abnormal conditions such as leaks.

Coal mines, refineries, hydrogen facilities, and pump jack operations frequently fall into these classifications, requiring measurement equipment with specialized construction, materials, and electronics.

Beyond explosive risk, these areas are simultaneously challenged by high temperatures, humidity, or water exposure, abrasive dust, vibration, and heavy mechanical loads. Equipment must therefore be ruggedized, sealed, and engineered to operate safely, while still maintaining accuracy.

Use Cases for Interface Solutions in Hazardous Energy Environments

Pump Equipment
Extraction Supports and Structures
Hydraulic Fracturing Equipment
Downhole Drilling Machines
Wirelines
Wet and Dry Well Load Strings
Cranes and Rigging
Transportation Vehicles
Storage Facilities
Conveyors and Pipelines
Weighing
Tool Recovery
Crush and Strength Testing
Wireless Monitoring
Submersible Testing
Robotics and Inspection Automation Tools

In hazardous energy environments, Interface solutions load cells provide quantifiable benefits in accident prevention, structural protection, operational efficiency, and compliance. Interface solutions are used in real-time load monitoring to prevent overloading, equipment failure, and collapse. Force readings support optimized drilling, pumping, lifting, and material handling.

Interface’s Hazardous Locations Solutions

Interface has long supported the energy sector with Hazardous Locations sensors that meet the standards of North America ETL, ATEX, and IECEx. These standards define design requirements for atmospheres, zones, temperatures, and more. To ensure compliance, each Interface Hazardous Locations product undergoes a detailed inspection, is marked with its zone and temperature rating, and is supported by complete manufacturing traceability maintained for at least 10 years.

Interface Hazardous Location Intrinsically Safe Products

LowProfile Load Cells 3410 and 3416
Sealed S-Type Load Cells SSMH
Coil Tubbing Load Cells 3416, 3420, and 3430
Sealed Column Load Cells 3450
Stainless Steel Load Cells IPA and ITCA
Flame-Proof Load Shackles
Stainless Steel Load Pins
Stainless Steel Tension Link Load Cells
Customer and Wireless Load Pins

By integrating Interface’s hazardous environment sensor technologies into their operations, equipment manufacturers can use the data for safety and performance monitoring while maintaining production. We provide standard and custom designs. Contact our application experts for product specifications and pricing.

Hydraulic Fracturing

Hydraulic fracturing is known in the energy sector as fracking. It is a process used for extracting oil and natural gas from underground. With natural gas consumption in the United States reaching a new record in 2024, methods to meet the demands require sensor-based solutions safely and efficiently.

Hydraulic fracturing is a means to expedite natural gas production. This method involves injecting a high-pressure fluid, often a mix of water, chemicals, and proppants, into the rock to create fractures. Proppant is a granular material like sand or ceramic beads injected into oil or gas wells at high pressure to hold open fractures in the rock formation, allowing for the extraction of energy sources.

As a supplier of choice in the energy sector, our load cells are integrated into the pumping systems, tension monitoring equipment, downhole simulators, wireline equipment, and wells.

Concerning hydraulic fracturing, Interface force measurement products help monitor the precise amount of proppant being pumped into the well. Interface sensor technologies are commonly used in hydraulic fracturing and proppant applications to measure the force or pressure exerted during fracking accurately.

We have developed standard and engineered-to-order solutions for these environments using our experience, technologies, and proprietary strain-gaged solutions specifically for downhole applications.

Examples of Interface Products for Hydraulic Fracturing

Interface Pressure Compensated Downhole Cell Model (IPCD) is pressure compensated up to 20,000 PSI, temperature compensated up to 350°F. It is superior to hydraulically compensated wet load cells, which have a short life expectancy and high operating costs
Axial Force Pressure (AFP) tension and compression load cell and a pressure transducer with 2 discrete Wheatstone bridges for output utilize a matrix conversion process to determine force and pressure.
Custom Load Pins in various sizes and capacities to work within fracturing equipment.

Load cells have precise measurement capabilities necessary for maintaining optimal fracking conditions. Overloading or underloading the well with proppant can result in suboptimal fracturing, compromising well productivity, or even causing structural damage to the wellbore.

Hydraulic Fracturing Applications Using Interface Sensor Technologies

Interface load cells are used in equipment for measuring factors that impact safety and environmental sustainability in hydraulic fracturing operations. For example, by accurately measuring forces exerted during proppant handling, load cells may lessen the risk of equipment failure or unintended environmental impacts.

Interface’s load cells and instrumentation provide precision, reliability, and real-time monitoring capabilities. The data we provide using our force sensors also helps evaluate the effectiveness of the hydraulic fracturing operation, thus optimizing future procedures for maximum output.

HydraulicFracturing_InfographicPoster

Renewable Energy

Renewable energy sources present sustainable alternatives to traditional energy. By harnessing the power of the sun, wind, water and biomasses, the opportunities to expand our energy production capabilities grows exponentially around the world.

At Interface, we proudly serve as a leading test and measurement solutions partner for some of the world’s largest energy production and equipment manufacturers. Our expertise lies in providing cutting-edge sensor devices and instrumentation, including custom-designed OEM solutions catering to various energy applications on land and at sea.

As innovators and market leaders continue to invest in research, development, testing and manufacturing of advanced renewable technologies, Interface continues to be a partner of choice based on our engineering and energy applications experience.

How the Renewable Energy Market Utilizes Interface Load Cells

Wind turbine testing and monitoring utilizes force measurement solutions. Our load cells are used to measure the torque and thrust of wind turbines. This measurement data is used to optimize the performance of the turbines and to ensure that they are operating safely.
Solar panels design and use benefits from load cells. Sensor technologies from Interface are used to measure the weight of solar panels. Sensor data is used to design and install solar panel arrays that are safe and stable.
Hydroelectric dams use load cells to measure the force of water flowing through a hydroelectric dam. Using measurement devices to control the flow of water helps to monitor production and ensure that the dam is operating safely.
Geothermal power plants are known to use load cells to measure the pressure and temperature of geothermal fluids. The measurement results are used to design and operate geothermal power plants efficiently.
Biomass power plants require accurate measurement of the weight of biomass fuel. Load cell technologies provide valuable operating and production information.

At Interface, we actively contribute to the renewable revolution by supplying a vast array of options for force, weight and torque measurement. This includes our high accuracy tension and compression load cells, rotary and reaction torque transducers, and other essential components for testing and monitoring systems in wind, water, solar, and hydrogen energy production. The precision of our measurement products is crucial for efficient energy capture and storage systems. We also understand the unique requirements of the energy industry, enabling us to collaborate directly with customers and create tailor-made solutions for the latest renewable products and technologies.

Renewables_InfographicPoster

Oil and Gas

The oil and gas industry relies heavily on load cells for safe and precise operations. From offshore platforms to drilling equipment, load cells ensure safety during lifting, equipment integrity, accurate material measurement, and optimal storage tank management.

Interface stands out by providing ruggedized, high-accuracy load cells specifically designed for the demanding oil and gas environment. Oil and gas companies can significantly enhance production by implementing Interface load cell technology.

Interface Oil and Gas Applications

Downhole Drilling
Dry Load Cell Replacements for Wet Load Cells
Oil Recovery
Drill String Weight and Tension Monitoring
Cementing Tools
Wellbore Perforation Equipment
Flow Management
Wireline Tools
Monitoring Pipeline Tension
Pipeline Stress Monitoring
Mooring and Riser Systems
Crane and Lifting Equipment
Mixing and Separation Systems
Wellhead and Production Operations
Tank and Silo Weighing

Interface provides force, torque, and weight product solutions and complete systems. We have a line of standard products and work with oil and gas production equipment manufacturers to integrate our load cells into the tools.

Interface prioritizes efficiency and innovation, providing customized solutions that meet specific client needs, budgets, and technical requirements. This may involve incorporating client-specific mechanical details or tailor-made solutions for seamless integration with existing drilling systems.

An oil company facing inaccurate readings during an enhanced oil recovery (EOR) project benefited from Interface’s LowProfile™ series load cells. These cells feature high durability to withstand demanding environments, ensuring accurate readings and improved recovery operations.

Our innovative dry cell technology addresses the challenges of “wet” load cells, which struggle with extended use in deep wells with extreme pressures, temperatures, and caustic environments. Interface’s innovative IPCD (Interface Pressure Compensated Downhole) load cell offers a superior solution for oil and gas.

Founded in 1968, Interface has a long history of success as a global leader in force measurement solutions for the oil, gas, wind, and other renewable energy sectors.

Interface | Leading Innovation in the Oil and Gas Industry

Clean Energy

Interface is a trusted measurement solutions partner in the energy industry. This applies to those researching, developing, equipping, and producing clean energy sources via solar, wind, water, nuclear, biomass, geothermal, and hydrogen fuel cells.

Clean energy prioritizes low emissions, generating power with minimal or no greenhouse gases. Unlike green energy, which focuses solely on renewable sources, clean energy encompasses both renewable and non-renewable options.

Interface’s load cells, torque transducers, multi-axis sensors, and associated instrumentation are not just tools, but precision instruments that bring a new level of accuracy to the clean energy sector. These devices provide the precision and reliability necessary for accurately measuring and testing various components and systems, instilling confidence in the results.

We understand the complexities of this market and have developed products alongside our custom solutions department to meet the unique requirements of clean energy innovations and applications. Our sensors play a crucial role in the testing phases, ensuring the reliability and effectiveness of clean energy operations.

Clean Energy Applications Using Interface Sensor Technologies

Electrolyzer and Fuel Cell Tie Rod Monitoring
Convertor for Wave Energy
Wind Turbine Bolt Monitoring
Geothermal Well Drilling
Solar Panel Strength Testing
Wave Energy Generator
Windmill Energy
Wireless Monitoring Equipment
Submersible and Hazardous Environments Sensors

By utilizing Interface measurement solutions, clean energy engineers and researchers can:

Optimize system performance: Accurately measure forces, torques, and weight to improve efficiency and output.
Enhance product development: Gather essential data for designing and refining clean energy technologies.
Ensure quality and reliability: Conduct rigorous testing to verify product durability and performance.
Accelerate research: Obtain precise measurements to support the development of new clean energy solutions.

Interface’s solutions offer the foundation for building a sustainable future. For example, in the burgeoning field of wind energy, Interface load cells are critical for measuring blade loads, tower base forces, and nacelle loads. This data is essential for optimizing turbine design, predicting maintenance needs, and ensuring structural integrity. Our torque transducers accurately measure the power output of wind turbines, allowing for performance optimization and energy yield maximization. Read our case study, Interface Supports Incredible Wind Energy Innovation.

Beyond wind energy, Interface solutions are also applied in solar panel testing, water management systems, geothermal drilling components, and hydrogen fuel cell development. Our commitment to precision and reliability makes us a trusted partner in building a sustainable future.

Our force measurement solutions and instrumentation are accurate and highly reliable for real-time testing and performance monitoring. The data our sensor technologies produce is a dependable tool for evaluating the effectiveness of clean energy application operations. We also offer Bluetooth and wireless solutions to optimize test and measurement projects and solutions in various environments, from subsea to high-temperature exposures.

CleanEnergy_InfographicPoster

Oil and Gas Robotics

The oil and gas sector relies on autonomous robotic systems to improve safety, reduce downtime, and extend the life of infrastructure. Deploying robots in dangerous subsea, drilling, and refinery environments requires exact force, torque, and weight measurements to evaluate mobility and verify operational integrity. In these risky areas, continuous sensor technologies help prevent overloads, safeguard valves, and ensure automated systems run reliably throughout their lifespan.

Validating these robotic assets depends on continuous quality measurements to protect automated hardware and expensive pipeline infrastructure from excessive force, deterioration, and destruction. Interface’s products provide the tension, compression, and torque data essential for prototyping and testing in high-pressure environments. These sensors are incorporated into robotic limbs, tank crawlers, and pipe rigs to monitor wear, fatigue, and contact forces in real time.

Oil and Gas Robotics Applications for Interface Sensor Technologies

Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) Pipeline Integrity Monitoring
Wellhead Maintenance Valve Adjustment Testing
Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) Manipulator Arm Multi-Axis Grip Profiling
Automated Pipe Handling and Inspection Vehicles
Quadrupedal Robots Testing and Monitoring
Robotic Tank Crawler Wall-Climbing Safety
Robot Lifting and Tension Monitoring
Blasting and Welding Force Tracking
Inventory Control and Overload Prevention
Security Robots and Visual Monitoring Equipment
Internal Pipeline Inspection Robots
Robotic Manipulator Navigation Tracking
Robotic End-Effector Grip and Reach Compliance Testing

The main challenge in oil and gas robotics testing is maintaining long-term sensor calibration accuracy in harsh, extreme environments. In-field measurement is also hindered by expensive cable damage, complex routing, and environmental wear on robotic joints. Interface provides high-quality, fatigue-rated load cells, multi-axis sensors, wireless telemetry transmitters, and digital tools that isolate multidirectional forces and reduce cable vulnerabilities. These capabilities enable robots to instantly adjust balance and torque.

Interface Products Used in Oil and Gas Robotics

LowProfile Load Cells
Load Cells for Hazardous Environments
Multi-Axis Sensors
Stainless Steel Load Cells
Miniature Beams, S-Types, and Load Washers
Sealed and Submersible Load Cells
Rotary and Reaction Torque Transducers
Load Pins, Load Shackles, and Tension Load Links
Wireless Telemetry Systems (WTS)
Data Acquisition (DAQ) Systems
Digital, Portable, and Handheld Instrumentation
Custom Solutions

Oil and Gas Robots Require Precise Measurement Solutions

Without precise force and torque data, operations risk the failure of drill strings and vessels. Accurate data is crucial for evaluating stress, predicting robotic wear, and enabling safe autonomous operations with maintenance based on real conditions. Interface offers high-resolution measurement products to keep energy hardware aligned with operational needs. Contact our engineers to discuss your robotic projects.

Additional Resources

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Energy Solutions from the IQ Blog

Force Makes the Circular Economy Go Around

April 4, 2024/in Blog /by Jamie Glass

Interface load cells and instrumentation are used in different facilities and resource manufacturing processes within the circular economy. Our sensor technologies help to measure and monitor forces, loads, and weight within the tools, robotics, and machinery used to optimize resources. Our sensors are also commonly used to test new products for material strength, fatigue lifecycle, quality, and function.

Building a Clean Energy Future in Hydrogen with Force

January 18, 2024/in Blog /by Jamie Glass

Interface is a supplier of force measurement solutions for clean energy providers and equipment makers. Brian Peters writes about the dynamics of applying force testing in hydrogen energy to the Winter Edition of Global Hydrogen Review. Learn how force measurement is used in research, production, storage and testing of hydrogen sources and equipment.

Year in Review of Top Interface Solutions and Applications

January 5, 2024/in Blog /by Jamie Glass

Interface is at the forefront of innovative use cases and applications, providing quality devices worldwide to gather precision measurements. Interface unveils the top industry solutions, product use cases and applications that define force measurement in 2023.

Force Measurement Solutions for the Forestry Industry

December 7, 2023/in Blog /by Jamie Glass

Interface products are ideal for the forestry industry, whether designing heavy-duty machinery using load cells to prevent overloading or protecting operators with sensor-based alarm systems and monitoring tools. Interface sensors are used in forestry heavy equipment, forest and timber management, logging, wood product manufacturing, pulp and paper manufacturing, and recycling forest products.

Interface Measurement Solutions for the Natural Resources Industry

October 11, 2023/in Blog /by Jamie Glass

Interface offers various sensor technologies for research, development, extracting, processing, and preserving natural resources. Our load cells and instrumentation are critical in measuring and monitoring forces, loads, and weight in different processes, equipment, tools, and technologies used in the natural resources industry. The data acquired from Interface load cells provides tremendous value in innovation, R&D, and optimization.

Outlining Force Solutions for Structural Outrigging

September 12, 2023/in Blog /by Jamie Glass

Interface provides load cells and wireless technologies for structural outrigging. Force measurement sensor technologies provide high accuracy measurement of the outrigging equipment in test and actual use. The applications range from integrating sensors into outrigger equipment to using load cells for real-time monitoring of physical structures using outrigger supports. Interface load cells are used by outrigging engineers, civil engineers and heavy equipment manufacturers, oil and gas, construction industry and marine equipment companies.

Wireless Telemetry Systems 101

September 8, 2023/in 101 Series, Blog /by Jamie Glass

Interface offers a wide range of wireless telemetry products including load cells, transmitters, bases, communication modules and data acquisition systems. A wireless telemetry system enables the remote measurement and transmission of data from one location to another without the need for physical wired connections. Components in wireless telemetry systems typically include sensors, transducers, instrumentation, communication modules, transmitters, displays and printers. Learn more about Interface WTS products in our Wireless Telemetry Systems 101 overview.

Interface Measurement Solutions Support Smart Cities

August 31, 2023/in Blog /by Jamie Glass

Interface load cell technologies are used in the design and development of smart cities. Force measurement data is valuable for assessing and improving the overall efficiency and sustainability of a city. Load cells are versatile and essential tools for a diverse range of smart city applications. They provide accurate and reliable measurements that can be used to improve safety, resource management, and sustainability. Interface load cells can be used to measure a variety of parameters in smart city development and management, from water resources to recycling. They are used in all types of building material and structural tests.

Interface Load Cells Propel New Torsional Force Measurements for Wind Energy Project

August 29, 2023/in Blog /by Jamie Glass

Interface energy case study reveals how Interface load cells were used by the PTB in Germany to develop, test and calibrate the world’s largest machine that measures torsional forces related to wind turbines. Learn about the products and the remarkable project led to new measurement capabilties for alternative energy production.

Load Cells for Renewable Energy Production and Testing

August 17, 2023/in Blog /by Jamie Glass

Interface precision measurement devices are selected by renewable energy companies, component makers, equipment manufacturers, and labs for all phases of renewable energy testing and production. Interface’s LowProfile load cells, load pins, multi-axis sensors, wireless telemetry solutions, Mini load cells, and our sensors designed for use in submersible environments and harsh conditions are products used in the renewable energy market.

Industry Solutions

Product Applications

Interface Guides

Custom Solutions

Company Overview

Energy

oil, gas, wind, coal, and solar applications

Energy Overview

Harsh Environments

Windmill Energy

Interface Pressure Compensated Downhole Load Cell

Hazardous Locations

Hydraulic Fracturing

Renewable Energy

Oil and Gas

Clean Energy

Oil and Gas Robotics

energy applications

Additional Resources

Energy Solutions from the IQ Blog

Force Makes the Circular Economy Go Around

Building a Clean Energy Future in Hydrogen with Force

Year in Review of Top Interface Solutions and Applications

Force Measurement Solutions for the Forestry Industry

Interface Measurement Solutions for the Natural Resources Industry

Outlining Force Solutions for Structural Outrigging

Wireless Telemetry Systems 101

Interface Measurement Solutions Support Smart Cities

Interface Load Cells Propel New Torsional Force Measurements for Wind Energy Project

Load Cells for Renewable Energy Production and Testing

Industry Solutions

Product Applications

Interface Guides

Custom Solutions

Company Overview

Energy

oil, gas, wind, coal, and solar applications

Energy Overview

Harsh Environments

Windmill Energy

Interface Pressure Compensated Downhole Load Cell

energy applications

Additional Resources

Energy Solutions from the IQ Blog

Interface Products used in Energy

2400 Standard Stainless Steel Low Capacity Universal Load Cell

2400 Standard Stainless Steel High Capacity Universal Load Cell

2404 Standard Stainless Steel 2-Wire Amplified Universal Load Cell

3200 Precision Stainless Steel Universal Load Cell

3416 and 3430 Coil Tubing Intrinsically Safe Universal Load Cells

BX8-AS BlueDAQ Series Data Acquisition System with Industrial Enclosure

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