The benefits of communication

Utilizing the latest technology to enable workers to communicate and access information from anywhere enables oil and gas operators to more efficiently control their systems. O&G spoke to Sandra Magnani from communications giant Alcatel who explains why better communication is so important for the sector.

O&G. As exploration becomes deeper, more remote and more complex, how can operators better utilize communication systems to gather data more efficiently without severely impacting exploration and production costs?

SM. Oil and Gas communication systems are used to gather and transmit both critical control system information to help manage drilling equipment, pumping systems, level monitors, etc., as well as for voice and less critical data communication between sites.

Control systems are of utmost importance to Oil and Gas operators as they enable the operator to monitor and control their operations and to immediately react in emergency situations. These control systems (SCADA) are comprised of sensors attached to electromechanical devices (pumps, valves) which are in turn connected to remote terminal units (RTUs). The RTUs are in turn connected to a central monitoring facility (MTU) by means of the transmission network. For example, if a pump stops working, an alarm would immediately be sent to a central monitoring facility and a maintenance team sent out to fix the pump.

Communications systems (PABX, UHF/VHF radios, etc.) are technologies that enable Oil and Gas personnel to communicate and access information from anyone to anywhere. These technologies are vital in enabling Oil and Gas operators to become more efficient. For example, field maintenance crews using VHF radio to obtain technical support and field engineers using laptops to download geological data demonstrate more real-time productivity.

Security systems are also becoming increasingly important to Oil and Gas operators due to their potential vulnerability to terrorism. Security systems include video surveillance cameras and monitoring consoles, intrusion detection, and access security devices. These security devices are connected to a central monitoring center via the transmission network helping to increase security and decrease costs.

With more applications such as SCADA and voice becoming IP-based, IP convergence allows the simplification and collapse of a traditionally multi-network infrastructure into a single converged network that not only reduces capital and operational costs but also improves productivity.

O&G. How does convergent optical infrastructure help increase productivity?

SM. High speed networks enable collaborative working, grid computing, and computer visualization for fast, accurate decision-making that helps to better manage and optimize assets.

“The electronic oil field” refers to a connected oil and gas production environment. The ability to estimate and control production of oil and gas fields can provide enormous value to the energy industry. Grid technology and computing can make interactive control of oil and gas production possible for the first time in history. A high performing communications network, connecting devices with remote high speed computers, will allow real-time production management.

This same network can also allow better utilization of existing sources, discovery of new oil and gas sources (through a new generation of simulations), improved knowledge of the underground or undersea, and tracking and understanding of field properties and long term changes in field characteristics.

Oil and Gas operators can leverage their communication assets to provide:

• Control, Safety and Security: Gas stations and all the installed production and distribution control systems run over virtual any-to-any network connectivity.
• Internal Communications: Optical fiber interconnections provide enhanced, real-time communications -- voice, data and video -- between all operational facilities and personnel.
• Wholesale Services: Lambda services can be sold to telecom carriers and central/local public administrations as a source of new revenue streams, allowing entry in the profitable carrier market.

O&G. What basic components would you say are a must for operators when considering implementing communication systems and what are the benefits?

SM. The basic components of a communication system include:

A unified management system providing a centralized point for monitoring and performance control over any type of transport node (terrestrial or submarine) and any network topology.

A single transport network aggregating a spectrum of services for internal and external communication and for increasing safety and security.

Seamless convergence of different fixed and mobile (WiFi, WiMAX, microwave connectivity) traffic -- voice, data and video -- in real time within and between production, transportation and processing facilities.

The benefits:

Increased Productivity. High speed networks enable collaborative working, real-time access to information and voice communications with field operations and e-applications.

Lower operating costs. With remote monitoring and control of offshore platforms and pumping stations, as well as real-time measurement and analysis of field data, operating over a single network does decrease costs.

Improved safety and security. By using secured communications, automatic emergency shutdown systems, high quality video surveillance, intrusion detection systems with immediate central notification and proven technologies respecting environmental conditions, safety and security are greatly improved.

IP based communications, allowing the integration of voice, video, and data traffic, will provide a more efficient and effective platform to support multiple applications now.

O&G. How can these be successfully adapted to different environments, such as onshore, offshore, pipeline, etc?

SM. As data requirements grow exponentially, with companies wanting to send continuously updated seismic data and host videoconferences for staff and customers, wave and optical technologies can provide a better business result.

You don’t need a direct fixed connection from the rig to the fiber to benefit; a rig can communicate via microwave or WiMAX to a nearby rig which does have a fiber connection. You can use a microwave (line of sight) or WiMAX link, carrying 80 mbps distances up to 80 km, or 25 mbps of distances up to 15 km, respectively.

Fiber optic connections will provide individual rigs with the equivalent of 50,000 satellite dishes. The network will be hurricane proof, enabling the rigs to be operated in any condition. The network can provide the communications links for the planned security communications, such as radar, undersea acoustic monitoring and cameras.

Currently, most rigs use microwave transmissions and satellite links to communicate with each other and to operators onshore. The problem: the communication network often doesn’t work during a storm. In order to maintain vital communication services, the transmitter on the rig must remain in line of sight of the satellite. During big storms, clouds can block the satellite signals producing periods of communication blackout.

IP/MPLS can traverse over many different transport technologies, including wireline and wireless. It is agnostic to the physical medium and therefore well suited to the varying requirements of the Oil and Gas industry.

O&G. What kind of staff training and support is needed when implementing more sophisticated communications – are systems easy to integrate and use?

SM. The communications network is a key business enabler that Oil and Gas companies must depend on -- but it's not their core business. By simplifying the current multiple networks into one, consolidating management at a central point, and by using intuitive yet advanced OA&M tools, the managers of these critical networks are much less burdened and more able to focus on the critical components supporting the core business.

Alcatel provides integrated communication solutions for production facilities, pipelines and refineries supported through a comprehensive portfolio of services. . Leveraging our vast experience and expertise in communications, Alcatel has the training, knowledge, skills and capability to propose and implement turnkey communications solutions strategically designed to help Oil and Gas operators get the most from their business in terms of productivity, operations, safety and security.

To facilitate the construction and maintenance of your network, Alcatel's integrated communication solutions can be delivered on a full "turnkey" basis. A full set of professional services are available to accompany our customers throughout the life of their project, covering everything from consultancy, to network design, network build and network run.

Our solutions are supported by powerful network management systems that are easy to use and thus minimize the technical skills required of the operators. Alcatel also provides consultancy, support and training to help Oil and Gas companies design and implement their own solutions.

O&G. When going wireless, how do your solutions ensure maximum security and what kind of standards/regulations do they adhere to?

SM. In addition to the data and voice communication systems required by all modern corporations, the Oil and Gas industry relies heavily upon SCADA networks to perform key functions. Unless protected, SCADA networks are susceptible to attacks by those meaning to create confusion as well as economic and ecological disaster. SCADA systems are mission critical and must be protected against these cyber attacks. In many situations, wireless connectivity is the only solution. It is therefore of primary importance for wireless networks to provide the same secure mission critical reliability provided by wired and optical networks. Alcatel and its partners can secure these networks by providing encryption as part of the turnkey package. Encryption can be provided on a full link basis or specific to each application, whether it be voice, video or SCADA.

Security failure is a major source of service degradation and revenue loss. It can be a regulatory or compliance (ISO 17799) requirement that companies implement efficient solutions to detect and react to any kind of direct and or virtual attack. Leveraging its experience in security services, Alcatel addresses the security issues specific to the Oil and Gas industry. While often mandatory, providing a secure network is not limited to providing encryption alone. Alcatel and its partners offer a simple, yet complete solution to deal with issues such as:

• Firewalls
• Robust authentication
• User access control
• User audit logging
• Certificate management
• Encryption
• Security management/key generation systems

Depending on the application requirement -- 802.1X, VPLS and RFC 2547 VPNs, NAT, VLAN, Tunneling -- IPsec and cryptography can be used to protect every packet that transits the system. Control (SCADA and DCS), communications (fixed and mobile voice, data) and security (intrusion detection, CCTV, PA/GA, etc.) can all be protected against intrusion, interception and attack. The Alcatel solution is not limited to products. We also provide consult and design, integrate and deploy, and operate and maintain services as required to ensure a turnkey, secure and mission critical network.

O&G. The oil and gas sector earned a reputation for being a slow adopter of new technology outside of its core business. Do you think this is still the case – how do you see trends changing in the future?

SM. The Oil and Gas sector needs technology to support their core business, therefore the communication network must be absolutely reliable and it must assure always-on communications. Communications need to be safe, the network robust (self restoration from failures) and the investment must be preserved for the long term. Often the threat of lawsuits and management implications ensure that technologies must be very robust. However, when proven, the Oil and Gas operators quickly adopt these newer technologies to remain competitive in this fast paced industry.

For all of these reasons, an optical communication infrastructure may be considered the best solution. The network “packetization” is an inevitable longer term migration for SCADA. As a migration strategy, any network solution that assures the coexistence of TDM and packet provides a strong choice and enables investment protection. In Greenfield applications, IP is becoming the prevalent protocol for many applications, from voice (VoIP), data (SCADA), video (videoconferencing), to physical security (video surveillance). This trend will continue. Companies who adopt a converged IP/MPLS solution can benefit from increased productivity and better achieve their business objectives now and in the future.

Sandra Magnani is Alcatel’s VP Non-Telco Markets Business Program, Fixed Communications and she oversees an international team responsible for worldwide business development. Sandra joined Alcatel in 2000.

Alcatel is a market leader in the provision of communications solutions to business in more than 130 countries worldwide. With sales of more than €13.1billion last year Alcatel is helping operators to evolve their networks towards a service based all IP environment.