Former NAIT student wins award for invention that helps improve safety in oil and gas industry

It is not easy to invent something, let alone by yourself. But Adrianne Andal’s work to improve safety in the oil and gas industry is making waves.

The former Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT) student created a tool to simplify the calibration of fixed gas detectors by using a smartphone, making it safer for those dealing with toxic gases and explosives in extreme weather.

“It was pretty challenging because it has a lot of parts,” said Andal, an engineering technology and inventor.

“If you’re a technician and you’re calibrating a gas detector out in the cold, you have to remove your gloves and it’s cold. But with this tool, you just use a cellphone app to control the flow of gas and that makes the job easier.”

Andal’s invention won an Alberta-wide award, the first time a solo invention won the Association of Science and Engineering Technology Professionals of Alberta (ASET) Capstone Project of the Year Award, a competition open to students in their final semester of studies.

“I was really surprised and it’s truly an honour. It’s a big deal for me, cause it’s a validation of the work I put into this project,” said Andal.

“I had never heard of a one-person team,” said Barry Cavanaugh, CEO of ASET. “I don’t suppose it’s unusual, you’ll see a one-person project. You won’t necessarily see them come to the finals like this or to win.”

So, what inspired Andal to create such a device?

“We had a job, where we were required to install 40 gas detectors and calibrate them and I thought to myself there should be a better way of doing it,” he said.

Cavanaugh says ASET will now be helping Andal promote his invention to investors.

Andal says he is currently developing more features to his project but lacks resources, saying he wants to continue his invention to make Alberta’s oil and gas industry more safe and efficient.