Microfabricated Pressure Sensors for Extreme Environments

Monitoring pressure changes in extreme subsurface environments, high temperatures and high pressures—is difficult with conventional tools. The industry needs smaller, more sensitive, and more durable pressure sensing technologies to operate reliably under these conditions.

AEC is developing ultra-sensitive microfabricated pressure sensors and hydrophones capable of working in harsh conditions—up to 125°C and 10,000 psi. These sensors are designed to be compact and precise, with the ability to detect pressure changes as small as 0.001 psi. We’re also exploring how these sensors can communicate acoustically in a subsurface network—making them potentially useful for distributed, wireless monitoring systems.