LaSen

What LaSen does

LaSen, Inc., founded in 1989 in Las Cruces, New Mexico, designs and operates an airborne pipeline leak detection service centered on its proprietary ALPIS (Airborne LiDAR Pipeline Inspection System) platform. ALPIS is a helicopter-mounted mid-infrared Differential Absorption LiDAR (DIAL) sensor operating at 3200–3300 nm, positioned as the only aerial system operating at the main absorption band of methane and claimed to deliver roughly 100x more sensitivity than near-IR competitors operating at 1650 nm. The system is paired with the PipeVision high-resolution video camera, which documents over 800 feet of right-of-way at GPS-tagged intervals, and integrates Aspen Avionics-supplied real-time wind data to optimize flight paths. The company owns and operates a fleet of five Bell 206 Jet Ranger helicopters out of operational bases in Las Cruces, Dallas, Fresno, Lexington, Denver, Las Vegas, and Vancouver, and since 2002 has surveyed more than 500,000 miles of pipeline, detecting over 40,000 hydrocarbon leaks. Primary customers are midstream oil and gas pipeline operators across North America, with power grid inspection as a secondary segment.

The business model is an enterprise B2B professional services model: per-survey, quote-based pricing with a quick-quote system on the website (accepting shape files via Dropbox), next-business-day report turnaround, and an online client portal for satellite-trained flight imagery. Go-to-market is direct enterprise field sales ([email protected], 575-522-5110) combined with event-driven outreach (Heli-Expo), thought-leadership content marketing, and broad participation in oil and gas industry associations (AGA, INGAA, regional gas associations, Marcellus Shale Coalition, Global Methane Initiative, PIOGA). Contracts are multi-year in nature. LaSen is privately held with no institutional venture funding disclosed; primary external capital has come from SBIR awards (U.S. Air Force in 1995, DARPA in 2003) and government economic development grants ($750K State of New Mexico LEDA and $400K City of Las Cruces LEDA in 2020, supporting an $8.4 million facility expansion at Pioneer Industrial Park expected to add ~80 jobs). Management is led by CEO Rusty Jennett and Director of Technology Ralph Motto, with Troy Dominy as Head of Creative and Doug Pauline as Business Development Manager.

Name

LaSen

Legal name

LaSen, Inc.

Website

https://lasen.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

LaSen operates an airborne, helicopter-mounted mid-infrared LiDAR pipeline leak detection service for North American oil and gas pipeline operators, using a proprietary ALPIS sensor, an owned Bell 206 fleet, and PipeVision right-of-way imaging.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Las Cruces

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices8 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Aerial LiDAR Pipeline Inspection Services: Airborne helicopter-mounted LiDAR inspection services for oil & gas pipeline leak detection. Services include real-time methane detection, GPS-tagged leak location mapping, HD photography of indications, and next business day comprehensive reports. Survey coverage of up to 300 miles per day.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

LaSen designs and operates ALPIS™, a helicopter- and drone-mounted airborne LiDAR pipeline inspection system using mid-infrared Differential Absorption LiDAR (DIAL) technology to detect hydrocarbon gas leaks on oil & gas pipelines and power grids. The company flies its own fleet of five Bell 206 Jet Ranger helicopters with in-house pilots to deliver end-to-end aerial leak detection, GPS-tagged leak mapping, HD photography of indications, and next-business-day comprehensive reporting. Services cover up to 300 miles per day across North America with 98% accuracy, regardless of clouds, wind, or time of day.

Product overview

LaSen offers a unified airborne leak detection service centered on the ALPIS (Airborne LiDAR Pipeline Inspection System) — a helicopter-mounted mid-infrared Differential Absorption LiDAR platform. The core ALPIS system is paired with optional PipeVision high-resolution video add-on for comprehensive right-of-way documentation. Together, these products enable aerial inspection of oil & gas pipelines and power grids across North America, detecting methane and hydrocarbon leaks with 100x sensitivity over competitors. Services include in-house pilots, fleet of helicopters, next-business-day reporting, and federal compliance support.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ALPIS (Airborne LiDAR Pipeline Inspection System): The primary LiDAR-based airborne leak detection system operated from helicopters, airplanes, or UAVs that detects methane and other hydrocarbon leaks with 100x more sensitivity than competing technologies by operating at 3300nm wavelength.
• PipeVision

Products and services

• ALPIS (Airborne LiDAR Pipeline Inspection System) Helicopter-mounted mid-infrared Differential Absorption LiDAR (DIAL) system for detecting and quantifying hydrocarbon leaks from oil & gas pipelines and facilities. Operates at 3200-3300nm wavelength providing 100x sensitivity over near-IR competitors at 1650nm. Features a 1,600 sq ft laser footprint, 400 readings per second, GPS-tagged leak mapping, HD photography of indications, and next-business-day reporting. Detects methane, propane, butane, and volatilized liquid petroleum products down to 5 ppm sensitivity with up to 98% accuracy, regardless of clouds, wind, or time of day. Sold to enterprise oil & gas pipeline operators and power grid operators across North America.
• Helicopter LiDAR Leak Inspection Service End-to-end aerial inspection service using ALPIS-mounted Bell 206 Jet Ranger helicopters. Surveys up to 300 miles per day with 98% accuracy regardless of clouds, wind, or time of day. Fleet of 5 helicopters located across the USA and Canada. Includes next-business-day turnaround with online client access to satellite-trained flight imagery, GPS-tagged leak locations, HD photography of leak indications, and comprehensive overnight reports. Sold to enterprise oil & gas pipeline operators and power grid operators across North America.
• PipeVision High-Resolution Video Camera System High-resolution video camera system integrated into LaSen's helicopter-mounted LiDAR fleet that captures over 800 feet of right-of-way at the widest angle, tied to continuous GPS location. Documents right-of-way status including above-ground facilities, encroachments, vegetation, erosion threats, water crossings, and wetlands. Sold to enterprise oil & gas pipeline operators and power grid operators needing comprehensive aerial inspection with both gas detection and visual right-of-way documentation.

Quantifiable outcome

• 98% accuracy rating for leak detection
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

AI capability3 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• American Gas AssociationminorOthersIndustry association partnership. LaSen partners with AGA as part of oil & gas industry associations network.
• Arkansas Gas AssociationminorOthersIndustry association partnership for gas industry networking and collaboration.
• Colorado Oil & Gas AssociationminorOthersIndustry association partnership in major oil and gas producing state.
• Global Methane InitiativeminorOthersInternational partnership focused on methane emission reduction, aligned with LaSen's leak detection mission.
• INGAA (Interstate Natural Gas Association of America)minorOthersMajor industry association for interstate natural gas pipeline companies.
• Marcellus Shale CoalitionminorOthersRegional industry association for natural gas development in Marcellus Shale region.
• Northeast Gas AssociationminorOthersRegional gas industry association serving northeastern United States.
• Northwest Gas AssociationminorOthersRegional gas industry association serving Pacific Northwest.
• Oklahoma Gas AssociationminorOthersState gas industry association for Oklahoma.
• SGA (Southeastern Gas Association)minorOthersRegional gas industry association serving southeastern United States.
• Texas Gas AssociationminorOthersState gas industry association for Texas, a major oil and gas producing state.
• Colorado State UniversityminorOthersAcademic institution partnership for research and development collaboration.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• Atmos International: Atmos International provides software-based pipeline leak detection and simulation tools for operators, representing a complementary alternative to physical aerial surveys like LaSen's helicopter LiDAR service.
• QLM Technology: QLM Technology develops quantum-cascade laser-based gas detection LiDAR systems for drone and aerial deployment, competing with LaSen's mid-IR DIAL technology in the methane sensing space.
• GHGSat: GHGSat operates a commercial satellite constellation for high-resolution methane emissions monitoring, providing a complementary but disruptive alternative to aerial LiDAR inspections for oil & gas operators.
• Aeris Technologies: Aeris Technologies develops mid-infrared laser-based gas sensors for portable and aerial deployment, addressing similar methane and hydrocarbon detection applications as LaSen's ALPIS platform.
• Hifi Engineering: Hifi Engineering offers fiber-optic sensing-based pipeline leak detection and monitoring, providing an alternative continuous-monitoring technology that competes for the same pipeline integrity budget as LaSen's periodic aerial inspections.
• SeekOps: SeekOps provides drone-mounted methane detection sensors for the oil & gas industry, representing a newer, lighter-asset alternative to helicopter-based LiDAR inspections offered by LaSen.

Broad incumbents

• Baker Hughes: Baker Hughes is a major oilfield services incumbent offering emissions management and methane monitoring solutions within its broader energy services portfolio, overlapping with LaSen's compliance-driven leak detection services.
• Honeywell: Honeywell provides process controls, gas detection sensors, and emissions monitoring solutions to oil & gas operators globally, addressing the same methane/leak compliance needs that drive demand for LaSen's services.

Direct peers

• Bridger Photonics: Bridger Photonics provides aerial gas leak detection and methane quantification using advanced LiDAR from fixed-wing aircraft, directly competing with LaSen's helicopter-mounted LiDAR service for oil & gas pipeline operators.
• Kairos Aerospace: Kairos Aerospace offers aerial methane detection services for the oil & gas industry using fixed-wing aircraft and proprietary sensors, overlapping directly with LaSen's helicopter-based leak detection value proposition.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/watch?v=G1i5fteQLWQ
• Xx.com/LasenInc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about LaSen