Fiber 101 as it relates to Fiber, Cable, Connectors and Hardware for Application spaces including Oil, Gas, Energy and Utilities.

Using best practices derived from today’s most advanced field deployments, energy organizations can overcome the challenges that stand in the way of their expanded mobility initiatives. Attendees of this session will walk away with the information they need to tackle specific problems, avoid common complications and fine-tune the plans of their latest mobile project. IT professionals will learn how to:

• Enable secure connectivity for all data traffic to and from mobile devices

• Control and manage mobile devices for an entire mobile fleet

• Understand ways to increase the functionality of lower bandwidth and intermittent network connections in remote locations

Troubleshoot remote device connectivity, hardware and software issues

This presentation will showcase how large-scale industrial operations are utilizing   Kinetic Mesh Networks in challenging, bandwidth- and application-intensive environments where many of the network nodes (equipment and vehicles) are in motion. The presentation will demonstrate how this technology can be leveraged to meet the demanding network requirements of petroleum, natural gas, pipeline and electric utility companies.  The presentation will include insights from an end user and feature illustrative visuals (animation, video, photos).  Audience members will realize both the inherent challenges of truly mobile broadband networking, and the benefits of this unique and proven approach. Today, Kinetic Mesh Networking provides reliable, scalable, high-bandwidth connectivity in harsh environments in demanding mining, military and industrial applications where connectivity is required and downtime is unacceptable.

The specification is probably the most important part of your SCADA system – it determines the products and services you are going to receive, and it will be the reference against which you measure the final delivered product. This session covers a set of rules that can be used when preparing a specification for a SCADA system, and some guidance on avoiding common pitfalls

As SCADA moves into the world of IT the quality of the specification is even more important. Over 80% of IT projects worldwide fail to deliver, and the majority can be traced to poor specifications. The specification is probably the most important part of a SCADA system A good specification will ensure that you get the functionality you require, at a reasonable price within a reasonable timescale. A poor specification may result in you getting something very different than what you expected, and paying far too much for it. Learn eleven rules to follow when developing a "good" specification.

Multi-well pads have become the standard for new shale exploration and production. For automation management personnel, this has created challenges and opportunities. Today, with advancements in directional drilling and multiple well head applications, there can be anywhere from 10 to 20 wells on one location. These new drilling and production technologies have created a need for new automation techniques. As a result, oil and gas measurement/automation technicians and engineers have been tasked with retrieving more data at a faster pace. In response to this demand, development of new wireless instruments and products has skyrocketed. This presentation will examine wireless technology options for multi-well pad automation and will educate the audience on how to choose the apropriate technology.

This presentation will focus on the migration of Energy and Utility operational networks. It will compare the current services to next generation services and contrast the current available alternative. It will also introduce the audience to new and emerging standards that facilitate this migration to next generation networks.

The session is unique in that it will place significant emphasis on the importance of testing, monitoring, and troubleshooting the communications links, using a range of Carrier Ethernet tools to anticipate service degradations and minimize the number of on-site technician calls. It will also talk about the role that network timing and synchronization play, and the various methods available to ensure synchronization in an all-packet environment.  Finally, the session will offer guidance to energy companies in determining the optimal technology approach       for their specific needs, whether that approach will involve MPLS (Multi-Protocol Label Switching), VPLS (Virtual Private LAN Service) encapsulation, IP/MPLS or Ethernet end-to-end, or a combination.

• Determine Maximum Performance of any serial network

• Determine Maximum Performance Capacity of any IP / Multi-threaded Radio Network

• Properly Set Retries and Timeouts for Any Radio Network Based on Statistical Data

• Calculate Best Case Costs per Endpoint in any Radio Network

• Find the Most Efficient Number of Simultaneous Messages on an IP / Multi-threaded Radio Network
  

  • An Unbiased Insight of Radio Network Optimization from an E&P Company Perspective, Not a Sales Pitch

Wireless communications have extended surveillance, security, and data collection into new and exciting areas. As innovative technology emerges, the possibilities for gathering data, including video, increases. This session will focus on the benefits of these systems, such as Wi-Fi, WiMAX, LTE, 4G, and other technologies, as methods for collecting and analyzing video and data in utility-specific applications

Attend this session and you will take away:  Real-world examples of the ways in which a gas transportation company enhanced their SCADA alarm management system to meet PHMSA requirements.  Knowledge of the specific procedures they set in place to stay in compliance into the future.  The presentation incorporates information contributed by both gas company management and the consultants who designed and implemented the system changes.  Every case history is unique and can generate new and effective ideas for meeting compliance goals for other energy transportation companies who require PHMSA - compliant SCADA systems.  Just as Control Room Managers are exchanging information about compliance audit results to assist their colleagues in the industry, sharing case history details about specific methods and procedures for achieving compliance can benefit the energy community - and the general public as a whole - by making operations safer.

This session will discusses FEED (front end engineering/design) basis of multiple Telecommunication Systems of a mega project in the Energy industry and the implementation experiences as the Telecom Systems are being built & tested. 

Mega Projects in this era typically average around 10 Billion USD, so multiple EPC contractors have varying scopes of the Telecom systems all tied together by Industrial, Enterprise grade Centralized Telecom systems typically concentrated in one or two locations. To manage and control this entire new infrastructure requires a cohesive and robust Standardized Communications network, which has to be defined in the FEED documents. Each of the EPCs is typically required to include the Telecom systems scope in their bid, along with the interfaces to the EPC responsible for Centralized Telecom Systems, public and/or private service providers.

The Mega project is in the late stages of Construction and Testing. As with many worldwide gas projects this one has a very high H2S content and some condensates. The unique nature of the Telecom systems on this project is the HSE (Health Safety / Security & Environmental) considerations. Due the very high H2S content of the incoming well stream fluids, Telecommunication Systems are considered primary safety systems. All Telecom systems are redundant (except the Business LAN), and designed to have no single point of common failure. The presentation will discuss some of the special considerations in detailed design and implementation of the Telecom systems due to HSE critical requirements.

This session will be a case study describing the migration from two legacy satellite technologies to a single solution.  The presentation will highlight the detailed process from initial system assessment to the final system deployment and testing.  Lessons learned about the process will be shared along with the many technical advantages of migrating to a single solution.  As with any large project, it was not the perfect migration, but many things were learned along the way.  Come learn from our experience.

The main points the presenter will cover in this presentation of ‘New Innovations in Wireless Remote Monitoring’ are based upon using wireless communications for remote monitoring in contrast to wired communications. The presenter then explains how wireless technologies such as wireless I/O and license-free data radios benefit companies:

The ENTELEC attendee will learn of new and previously existing technologies and capabilities for wireless remote monitoring. There are new tools and applications for those tools being rolled out in the oil & gas production environments. The basis of those will be addressed across applications.

Validations in a measurement system are very powerful tools that when configured properly reflect significant time savings and improved data integrity   for the measurement group.  The examples below will be reviewed during the class with specific examples of how they can be incorporated into a pipeline, production and midstream environment, and local distribution company’s measurement system:

• Boundaries check on all variables to ensure reasonable values.

• Configuration comparisons to integrity in the flow computer and verify there are no lost meter/EFC events exist.

• Volume calculation and comparison on every record to determine calculation deviation between the meter/EFC and the measurement system.

• “Expert System” routines for statistical analysis of current vs. historical data.

• Frozen value comparison of selected flowing parameter/EFCs (Differential Pressure or Pulses, Pressure, Temperature, Volume, Energy) to prior records to recognize an interruption in a live data feed. 

• Rate of change comparison of a meter/EFC’s current record to prior record(s) identifies excessive variation from prior values or day

• Comparison of a meter/EFC’s current record to a different meter/EFC’s record provides comparison for multi-tube locations, check meter/EFCs versus sales meter/EFC, or upstream and downstream comparison.

• Validation of ultrasonic meter flowing parameters.

The class will review the many validation rules that are available to the measurement group today and their practical application to your organization.  The exception logging review and resolution process will also be examined with a recommended approach to ensure insure measurement data integrity.

Come along with us as we see how a fossil power plant consisting of four 780 MW generators creates a new control room, incorporating the addition of a flue gas environmental solution. 

Managing wireless network reliability and performance has become one of the highest priorities for emergency service responders, industrial automation, transportation, SCADA and the broadband wireless industry.  The proposed paper/presentation is intended for wireless network designers, implementation/service personnel, and network operators.  Proper design, implementation, and maintenance of wireless infrastructure are essential components in managing reliability, productivity, and personnel safety. The information to be presented capitalizes on many years of “hands on” design and application experience with “lightning protection and grounding considerations for wireless networks”.

Xcution is a strategic planning and execution company that facilities organizations in taking their project execution to the next level.  Xcution has been working with the oil and gas industry for 12 years.  In the past 4 years, Xcution has been a part of a cultural shift that is changing the way the oil and gas industry thinks about project management and who is best positioned for it.  Join Jane Henry, co-founding partner of Xcution, in a national consciousness-raising movement – bringing focus back to the interpersonal skills side of project execution.  She will introduce you to the concept behind “Human Barriers to Execution”, a unique phenomenon that occurs when pressure builds up around teams.  By simply learning how to release this pressure, one can be at the cause of creating extraordinary results.

This presentation offers an overview of challenges communications engineers and wind farm designers and operators face in the ever-expanding rush to utilize natural wind resources.   Any time engineers are planning a new wind farm in a desolate area, they should investigate existence and proximity of radio communications systems. In this brief presentation we will discuss and summarize some of the concerns engineers have to address during the wind farm design in order to ensure a peaceful coexistence of microwave links and wind turbines. This presentation/paper will also inform audience on the importance of careful planning when it comes to construction of the new wind farms, especially in connection with the commonly overlooked radio communications systems in the close proximity.  The audience will be informed about existing standards, objectives, and recommendations regarding the wind farm sitting in close proximity to existing microwave links.  This presentation offers an overview of challenges communications engineers and wind farm designers and operators face in the ever-expanding rush to utilize natural wind resources. This session will be useful to engineers, project managers, sales staff, investors, and other personnel involved in siting of wind farms and/or involved in communications engineering.

Video can be utilized as a standard type of data that SCADA systems employ to extend their vision and provide more meaningful information. In some cases, video can supply more information in a single snapshot than HMI screens can the field and integrating that data into your existing SCADA/HMI systems provides you with the information you need to make the right decisions smarter, faster, and more consistently. Today’s advanced video management systems provide video from cameras along with software that ties video and alarming into existing SCADA/HMI systems. This presentation will make the case for using video to increase the effectiveness of SCADA systems and present some case           studies illustrating this.

Automating processes and key business functions enable organizations to improve operations and make procedures more streamlined, cost-effective, safer and robust. Obviously, the key building block to a cost-effective, pipeline integrity, corrosion protection program is vital, timely monitoring and reporting of CP data. Historically this activity has been a manual event, but over the past decade or so, owners and operators have been looking to automate these processes and implement real-time monitoring of their critical pipeline assets. Reliable and efficient data communication technologies are key considerations under these circumstances. There are several data communication technologies available today to help automate key functions within an organization, including, cellular, satellite, licensed and spread spectrum wireless data radios, fiber and wire. Traditionally, companies with large geographically dispersed communication networks typically have selected one technology, one source, one vendor to collect, retrieve and report data to assess the health of their pipeline infrastructures. However, there is a new paradigm today in which organizations are breaking away from tradition and deploying multiple communication technologies to create a hybrid communications network that can better serve an organization’s needs.

Technologies using precast concrete and prefabricated steel have evolved during past ten years to provide non-penetrating foundation solutions for communication towers/poles. Features include less disturbance to the project site, EPA compliance at hazardous sites, can support towers/poles up to 200 feet height, removable, predictable construction schedule, and requires low soil bearing strength for the design. Current design criteria for telecom towers discussing TIA-Revision G exposure category, topographic category, and structure class category are reviewed. Review of various types of non-penetrating foundation solutions are shown in detail. Attendee will learn about conventional foundation designs, design factors that affect design loading on a telecom tower/pole and be introduce to three types of prefabricated, non-penetrating foundations and the site issues that can be minimized by their use.

Reid Henry is part of the Xcution team which is a strategic planning and execution company that facilitates organizations in taking their business to the next level.  You will see the impact of a holistic approach to execution, learn to thrive with ‘Proflict’ (constructive conflict), and enhance the “soft skills” side of execution.  Reid will introduce you to the concept behind “Human Barriers to Execution”, a unique phenomenon that occurs when pressure builds up around teams. By simply learning how to release this pressure, one can be at the cause of creating extraordinary results.

This session will provide Strategies to provide security to multi-service Field Area Network (FAN) enabling secure provisioning, device management and data transport.  The proposed multi-service open standard based FAN security solution enable flexible IP network services supporting use cases such as Advanced Meter Infrastructure (AMI), Distribution Automation, SCADA and work force automation.