Spyglass, SRI to Commercialize Underwater Mass Spectrometer

SRI International and Spyglass Technologies, Inc. have entered into an exclusive licensing agreement to commercialize SRI’s in situ membrane introduction mass spectrometry (MIMS) technology. Through the license, Spyglass, a St. Petersburg, Florida-based technology company, will apply SRI’s underwater MIMS technology to a broad range of commercial, research, and government applications. Spyglass will also bundle the MIMS device with other underwater sensors to present detailed biochemical information through its web portal software platform. Additionally, SRI and Spyglass will continue to collaborate on other market-based applications of the technology.

The MIMS device enables advanced underwater chemical surveys to be conducted by researchers and companies involved in oil and gas exploration and production, monitoring and protecting ocean resources, and water treatment and management applications.

The MIMS technology was initially developed at the University of South Florida’s Center for Ocean Technology and subsequently advanced by researchers at SRI’s St. Petersburg-based Marine Technology Program. During the past five years, SRI has demonstrated the MIMS device’s capabilities in deployments around the world. The system has been used to conduct research and generate important data unattainable without this type of on-site instrumentation. These studies have included characterization of natural hydrocarbon seeps, monitoring impacts of discharges from man-made assets, and studies of marine ecosystems.

 “SRI has advanced the MIMS system to be cost-effective for industrial applications, reduce operational risk, improve the quality of data, and place innovative capabilities in the hands of researchers,” said Timothy Short, manager of the Marine and Space Sensing Group at SRI International. “Collaborating with Spyglass, a company that has assembled a state-of-the-art portfolio of sensors and software, extends our efforts to convert research and development into applications with the potential for broad impact in water intensive industries.” 

“Oil and gas companies, water managers and researchers are all gaining a more in-depth understanding of aquatic environments through Spyglass sensors and software,” said Chris Melançon, CEO, Spyglass Technologies. “SRI’s underwater mass spectrometer technology unlocks new chemical information that will help the oil and gas industry accelerate revenue while managing exploration costs, and researchers to be more effective stewards of our water resources.”