from the biggest challenges currently facing flame and gas detection to how fire safety is poised to change in the years ahead
Micropack’s managing director and president Graham Duncan shares valuable insights from his 20-year career in the oil and gas industry, from the biggest challenges currently facing flame and gas detection to how fire safety is poised to change in the years ahead
WHAT IS YOUR ROLE WITHIN MICROPACK AND HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN WITH THE COMPANY?
I’m the managing director and president at Micropack, but my journey here started almost 20 years ago. I began my career as an engineer with NCR in the cash management industry, but when an opportunity came up at Micropack, I jumped at it. The lure of travel, working on large-scale projects with global importance, and applying technology that keeps people safe was too good to pass up. I joined Micropack as a Fire and Gas Engineer and over the years I’ve had the privilege to move through a variety of roles – technical, commercial, and now strategic leadership. It’s been an incredible journey, and I’ve stayed because the work continues to feel meaningful.
WHAT FIRST DREW YOU TO THE OIL & GAS INDUSTRY?
At the start, it was the scale of the projects and the chance to travel that caught my attention, but what kept me hooked was the purpose. Oil and gas is an industry where safety is absolutely critical. Working on flame detection and fire safety meant I wasn’t just engineering solutions – I was helping make sure people go home safe at night. That sense of responsibility gave me real pride in the work, and it’s what has kept me in the field for nearly two decades.
WHAT CHANGES HAVE YOU SEEN IN FLAME DETECTION AND MAPPING SINCE YOU JOINED THE COMPANY?
When I joined, flame detection relied heavily on traditional infrared and UV sensors, which often struggled with false alarms. Since then, the field has moved on enormously. Today we use intelligent, camera-based flame detection, where the system can visually identify what it’s “seeing.” Mapping has also completely changed. Early on, we were working in 2D layouts, but now with HazMap3D we can model coverage in three dimensions. That shift has given operators far greater confidence in knowing where their risks are and how their detectors perform.
WHAT RECENT INNOVATIONS OR ADVANCEMENTS ARE YOU MOST EXCITED BY WITHIN FLAME DETECTION TECHNOLOGIES?
I’m most excited by the use of machine vision within flame detection – particularly our MAVIS algorithm. It gives our detectors a level of accuracy and discrimination that simply wasn’t possible before. The other big step forward is in intelligent mapping. By combining advanced detectors with smart modelling tools, we’re able to design systems that are leaner, more effective, and better tailored to the real-world risks of each facility.
WHAT PROJECT HAVE YOU BEEN MOST PROUD OF WORKING ON AND WHY?
One that really stands out is an FPSO project where the operator was struggling with repeated unwanted alarms from traditional radiant flame detectors. These false alarms were incredibly costly – millions of dollars lost through unplanned process shutdowns. We worked with them to replace the old IR3 detectors with our Visual Flame Detectors, powered by our inbuilt MAVIS algorithm. The difference was immediate: the false alarms stopped, production could restart safely, and the system delivered the reliability they needed. For me, that project captured the best of what we do – using technology to solve a real problem, protecting safety while also saving our customer millions in the process.
WHAT ARE THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES CURRENTLY FACING THE OIL & GAS SECTOR AS A WHOLE?
The sector is balancing two huge challenges at once. The first is continuing to operate safely in an inherently hazardous industry, with increasingly strict regulatory demands. The second is navigating the energy transition – finding ways to reduce carbon while keeping operations reliable and safe. Holding those two priorities together is no easy task.
WHAT KEY LESSONS HAVE YOU LEARNED DURING YOUR TIME IN THE INDUSTRY?
One of the biggest lessons is that technology is only part of the solution. The people who design, apply, and maintain these systems are the ones who make them effective. I’ve also learned that you can never stand still. Risks change, industries evolve, and standards shift. You need to be adaptable and always willing to learn if you want to stay relevant and keep making a difference.
IF YOU COULD CHANGE ONE ASPECT OF INDUSTRY STANDARDS OR REGULATIONS FOR FLAME DETECTION, WHAT WOULD IT BE AND WHY?
I’d like to see more unified, risk-based performance standards for flame detection across the industry. At the moment, requirements vary widely between regions and operators, which can create inconsistency and confusion. A clearer global standard would ensure detectors are applied where they’re genuinely needed and tested against realistic conditions – ultimately raising safety levels everywhere.
WHAT CHANGES DO YOU PREDICT FOR FLAME DETECTION TECHNOLOGIES AND FIRE SAFETY IN THE INDUSTRY OVER THE NEXT 5-10 YEARS?
I think detectors will continue to get smarter, with AI and machine vision pushing accuracy to the point where false alarms become rare. Mapping will also develop further, moving towards real-time digital twins that update as facilities change.
Another important step will be in how different safety systems connect. At the moment, flame, gas, smoke and heat detection are often managed in separate silos. Platforms like Consilium’s SMiG show how these can be brought together into one view, giving operators clearer information and helping them make quicker decisions in an emergency. That kind of integration is where I see the industry heading.
In short, I think fire and gas safety will shift from being reactive to being predictive and connected – systems that don’t just detect, but actively support safer, faster decision-making.
Graham Duncan is managing director and president at Micropack: www.micropacksafety.com
