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In oil and gas, refining, and related industries, emissions monitoring and leak detection have long relied on manual inspections and scheduled checks. Those approaches still matter, but they can be time-consuming, reactive, and limited when it comes to spotting problems early.
In a recent ARC Advisory Group podcast, I spoke with Adrian Araiza, Corporate Environmental Compliance Manager at CITGO, and Krishna Uppuluri, General Manager at mPACT2WO, a Molex business unit, about how digital technologies are changing that picture. The discussion covered how edge sensors, mobile devices, analytics, and AI-enabled platforms can help companies move from routine manual checks to real-time, anomaly-based detection.
You can listen to our full conversation on our Digital Transformation Podcast channel or here:
Watch the video episode on the ARC Advisory Group YouTube Channel or here:
Below is an overview of the insights from our conversation.
Start with the People Doing the Work
One of the clearest points from the conversation was that digital technology has to work for the people closest to the job: operators, maintenance teams, contractors, HSE personnel, and other frontline workers.
In other words, workers do not need another complicated dashboard or disconnected system. They need alerts they can trust, context they can use, and workflows that help them act quickly.
Moving from Scheduled Checks to Always-On Monitoring
A major shift discussed in the interview is the move from periodic inspections to real-time, continuous monitoring. Traditional leak detection and repair programs can find issues, but often only when technicians are sent into the field to inspect equipment.
Adrian noted that CITGO is using Molex mRegz technology to support 24/7 monitoring for leak detection and repair, benzene fence-line monitoring, and marine terminal operations. That means teams are able to detect leaks at much lower emission levels than the traditional EPA Method 21 and respond before small issues turn into bigger operational, environmental, or safety problems.
Catch Problems Before They Escalate
For Krishna, the big value of mPACT2WO’s solutions is early anomaly detection. The company focuses on emissions and corrosion monitoring, with alerts designed to reach users before conditions get worse.
That added context matters. Instead of simply knowing that something is wrong, teams can get a better sense of where the anomaly happened, what area needs attention, and how quickly they should respond. Adrian also pointed to the value of triangulation, which can narrow the search area and help teams find the source of a leak faster.
Keep Integration Useful, Not Overwhelming
Integration is often one of the first concerns companies have when they look at a new digital solution. Most end users already have plenty of systems across operations, maintenance, environmental compliance, safety, and enterprise workflows.
Krishna’s point was simple: integration should be focused on what helps workers do their jobs. If they need to add notes, take photos, or connect an alert to a field response workflow, that can be valuable. But pushing too much information at users can make adoption harder, not easier.
Build Trust First
Like any new technology, these tools have to earn people’s trust. In CITGO’s case, Adrian pointed to the value of a turnkey approach: Molex installed the sensors, trained personnel, and helped transition the solution into daily use.
Krishna added that adoption depends on whether workers believe the alerts are accurate and useful. When the technology fits naturally into how people already work, it is much easier for them to embrace it.
Measure What Actually Matters
For end users, the business case comes down to outcomes. Adrian said CITGO looks at metrics such as time spent on manual inspections, speed of detection and response, avoided downtime, and consistency of execution.
That is an important point. Digital transformation should not be measured by how many dashboards are deployed or how much data is collected. It should be measured by whether the organization becomes more predictable, responsive, safe, and efficient.
AI Can Help, But It Still Needs Industrial Know-How
The discussion also touched on AI. Krishna described mPACT2WO’s platform as an AIoT platform that already uses machine learning and is exploring generative AI. At the same time, he noted that areas like emissions and corrosion still require deep subject matter expertise and first-principles understanding.
That is a useful reminder. AI should support better decisions, not replace domain expertise. In industrial settings, it has to be grounded in the physics, regulations, operating conditions, and risks of the environment.
Key Takeaways
Start with the frontline worker. Build around how people actually work.
Catch issues early. The sooner teams know about a problem, the easier it is to respond.
Keep integration practical. Connect systems where it helps, not just because you can.
Build trust with reliable alerts. Adoption improves when alerts are accurate, timely, and relevant.
Focus on outcomes. Measure response time, avoided downtime, reduced manual effort, and execution consistency.
Use AI with industrial context. Ground it in operational knowledge, engineering reality, and regulatory requirements.
Final Thoughts
The shift from manual inspections to real-time, anomaly-based monitoring is a big step forward for refining and oil and gas operations. Edge sensors, analytics, mobile applications, and AI-enabled platforms can help companies spot issues earlier, reduce manual effort, improve safety, and strengthen environmental performance.
As the conversation with CITGO and mPACT2WO shows, the real value comes when technology is designed around people and practical outcomes. For frontline workers, the promise is straightforward: better information, sooner, so they can take action before small issues become big problems.
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If you would like to connect with me or my fellow analysts for a discussion on a variety of topics around industrial technologies or would like to learn more about ARC Advisory Group's Voice of Market Service, Executive Insights Service, and Industrial AI Insights Service, please reach out to Inderpreet Shoker at ARC Advisory Group.