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Managing wireless networks in offshore production

Wireless networking is now affordable for offshore production platforms. The cost of low-power wireless network components, including battery-powered, hazardous environment sensors, and RTU’s (remote terminal units) to equip an entire platform would fit comfortably within the budget of most offshore operations. Now, operators can afford to add sensors at process points that would have been unthinkable with wired networks. Combining the process point sensors with long-range radio modems and gateways, which also are affordable, allows operators to monitor offshore assets much more closely.

Maintenance

Wireless networks for offshore applications are also more maintainable than before. It is now easier to troubleshoot, expand, modify, and upgrade the networks and components without jeopardizing security and availability. This improvement comes from the use of a single systems management approach that treats and manages all wireless network technology in a unified, coherent architecture. Such a framework helps technical professionals to manage the diversity consistently.

Management

Creating unified systems management is not just good practice; it is critical. Companies that attempt to implement more than a few tactical solutions without a unifying plan are taking a great risk.

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The following are steps oil and gas producers can make to take full advantage of wireless technology today and tomorrow:

1. Survey the entire company to determine where there is a need for wireless technology and how that need plays into the business strategy, examining at every point the strategic tradeoffs between improving asset availability and utilization
2. Design a technology architecture that will encompass all stakeholders, including operations, safety, security, maintenance, and information technology
3. Create a policy manual that sets clear criteria for implementing a wireless solution
4. Select and purchase hardware and software that is proven, scalable, and capable of handling diverse protocols
5. Prior to implementation, conduct an RF site survey to identify wireless signal paths and sources of potential interference
6. Build ongoing maintenance, support, and optimization services into the plan.

Few companies have the resources to maintain the staff needed for all of these steps, especially given the high demand for specialists with relevant skills. Outsourcing to a specialist firm might well be the most cost-effective strategy for companies that want to use wireless networking with the least risk.

Feasibility

Maximizing oil and gas production and reducing costs require fundamental changes in the ways oil and gas production teams collaborate. Collaboration allows a group to forecast and recognize conditions and threat levels that require the deployment of additional sensors to drive software.

Click here to enlarge image Cost and complexity, power consumption, and data rate all need to be considered when sizing a communications system.

Instead of bringing people to the problem, the sensors and software take the problem to the people. The software senses conditions and trends, enabling collaboration on problem resolution to begin immediately.

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Volume 67  Issue 10   October 2007

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