British startup SatVu is providing heat-sensing satellite imagery to track damage to energy infrastructure and oil pipelines across the Gulf. Distributed through Saudi Arabia’s Neo Space Group on its UP-42 platform, the low-earth orbit infrared thermal cameras can detect heat signatures from leaking or damaged pipelines in near real time. SatVu states its cameras are about 30 times more powerful than those on NASA’s Landsat satellites and can spot heat sources as small as a car.
The technology analyzes ground temperature variations to identify oil seeps, pipeline breaks, and flares. This push responds directly to regional conflict, as energy and industrial facilities in the Gulf have been frequently targeted by Iran during the 2026 US-Iran war, including a drone attack on a Saudi Arabian East-West pipeline pumping station in April 2026.
SatVu’s chief technology officer noted the commercial thermal imagery provides energy traders and facility managers with real-time operational intelligence, such as production capacity and whether facilities are running. It can also show if operations have stopped due to infrastructure damage or attack concerns. This development introduces a commercial, open-source layer to satellite monitoring that has largely been handled by government and open-source intelligence sources during the conflict, highlighting how private companies and states are tracking Gulf energy security in near real time.