SCADA for OFFSHORE OIL PRODUCTION - RealFlex Technologies Ltd.

SCADA for OFFSHORE OIL PRODUCTION

CASE STUDIES

One of the world's largest oil and gas producers conducts exploration and production operations in the Gulf of Mexico.

PROBLEM DESCRIPTION AND SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS:

The firm operates a network of over 30 oil platforms and 75 satellite wells in the Gulf of Mexico. Whenever a major storm hits the coastline, all of the platforms must be evacuated. Not only is the trip to shore potentially hazardous, but the accompanying loss of production costs around $1.5 million per day. On average, evacuations occur three to four days per year. The client needed a system that enabled them to remotely continue operations when severe weather threatened. Requirements included:Communication with other systems both onshore and offshore. Multi-user and multi-tasking operations. Security for control of file access and user login/password protection. An audit trail of user login, logout, and system shutdown. File integrity in the case of power loss.

A system for offshore remote monitoring and control was created. PLC's and RTU's reside on multiple satellite platforms and wells. They communicate via radio or microwave with master terminal units located on central control platforms (CCPs). These master terminal units, in turn, communicate with a single MTU at the New Orleans control center. The NOCC controls offshore facilities during hurricanes and tropical storms providing information about each CCP area for support of the onshore staff. During "storm mode," the CCP operators are relocated from their consoles offshore to identical consoles in the control center. From here, each CCP operator safely controls his producing area while the storm rages offshore.Communication to the unmanned CCPs is via radio or microwave link. BJScan monitors communications and allows communications to automatically switch from the primary circuit to the secondary circuit when the primary encounters too much "noise." When the system is put in "hurricane mode" or Stormcom, BJScan initiates an orderly shutdown of all affected platforms if onshore communications are lost for a specified period of time.

The system makes it possible to monitor and control unmanned platforms 24 hours a day. Even during tropical storms, gas production can be safely maintained from a land-based facility for short periods of time. This results in increased production revenues and decreased risks to personnel. The information provided is a powerful tool for identifying and eliminating potential problems and makes the firms activities in the Gulf safer for the environment.

After thorough testing and evaluation, the client upgraded its facilities to RealFlex 4.

RealFlex, LanFlex, BJScan, CSL, Recipe Builder, Hot Standby/Automatic Failover, Custom Development Kit