autumn 2012
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Your industry resource for telecommunications destined for remote and harsh environments. OffComm News is the only magazine so dedicated to remote communications exploration.TRANSCRIPT
©OffComm News ~ Autumn 2012 www.OffCommNews.com
Autumn 2012
Where Telecoms & Energy Connect
For buyers and suppliers of telecommunications
destined for remote & harsh environments
Inside this Issue
Know Your Sub
Group Users?
Gen up with our quick guide
Quarterly www.OffCommNews.com CTLD Publishing Ltd
Who’s Been Shaping Up the
Comms Industry?
Find out inside!
The iPad
The little device that’s
making waves offshore
Time For A Fresh Look?
The effect of connectivity
on health, safety, moral
and recruitment
Get your special VIP code
for this event inside the
front cover!
Get the Lowdown » Major oil companies contract broadband » Information highway in space gets lift off »
Global VSAT for entire maritime market » 53% of companies have no remote comms
policy » PLUS The Quarterly » Diary Dates » News & Features & much more inside this issue!
©OffComm News ~ Autumn 2012 www.OffCommNews.com 2
©OffComm News ~ Autumn 2012 www.OffCommNews.com 3 ©OffComm News ~ Autumn 2012 3
Autumn 2012
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Editor’s Introduction
We made two rather interesting discoveries
while researching for this edition of OffComm
News. Firstly that iPads are rocking the
offshore world, see page 26. It seems
everyone can find a use for this device and
serious business benefits can be realised on
modified versions.
We spoke to a company that can make the iPad almost
bullet proof (well, drop proof, mud proof, water proof etc...)
and found out that demand has grabbed the attention of
the oil and gas industry. As I have not yet splashed out, if
they can make me one that will survive my habit of
knocking over my coffee I’ll take it!
We also found that while there is much research into the
benefits of communication via social media, online video
calls and the like, there doesn’t seem to be as much
relating to the exact opposite ~ and this is a topic that can
affect remote workers. While there are articles and blogs in
the public domain about those who have braved switching
off their digital digit action for a week or so, as a test, that’s
not long enough to realise just how dependent we have
become on the devices that fill our palms, pockets, work
bags and desks.
You can read some of what we did discover on page 17.
Revisiting this type of research, adding in modern day
elements of communication, could bring some realistic
insight into the lives of those that work in remote places;
and perhaps even spur the industry to help continue
improving conditions.
Enjoy this issue
Georgina Elrington
Your resource for
buyers and suppliers
of telecoms destined
for remote & harsh environments
Next Issue Winter 2012
*Special OilComm edition*
Out October / November Be sure to subscribe to receive yours
in print or online. See page 25 or
visit www.OffCommNews.com
OffComm News magazine
supports The African Children’s
Book Project www.AfricanChildrensBookProject.com
Contents
Pages 4 & 5
The Quarterly News round up from the last quarter
for your easy and continual reference.
Page 11
Company Feature We spoke to Bernie Bransfield, general manager at
Datasat Communications to find out how the company
has been shaping the communications industry.
Page 14
Diary Dates Events for quality global networking
& real live innovation.
Page 17
Research Resonates from the Last Century How communications could ease the transition from
ship to shore, rig to beach, mines to homes, and
reunite families. The last known report was dated 1985.
Is it time for another look?
Page 21
Know Your Sub Users? Get crewed up with our offshore guide. And then
check out our Winter 2011captive issue for ideas on
how to extract revenue from this market.
Page 26
iPads on Oil Rigs A Class 1, Div 2 modified iPad can bring direct benefits
to the bottom line. The key is delivering today’s
proven technology packed for use with solutions that
don’t break the bank. We dive in for a look as
DOFERO explains how the iPad is infiltrating the
offshore oil and gas sector.
In Print. Online. Offshore.
©OffComm News ~ Autumn 2012 www.OffCommNews.com 4
OTTO Marine has clinched two ship
chartering contracts worth US$16.6m for
two anchor handling tug supply (AHTS)
vessels, strengthening its presence in
African waters. The company, which builds
offshore support vessels and offers
specialised services, said both vessels will
be operated by Global Workboats Private
Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of Otto
Marine. Once deployed they will provide
support to oil rigs and platforms off the
Congo coast. The two new vessels, named
Beluga 2 and Redfish 3, will bring Otto
Marine’s offshore deployed support in
African waters to a total of six.
www.ottomarine.com
The Quarterly OffComm News Round Up
21 Crew Utility Vessels
Miclyn Express Offshore (MIO) has been
awarded a five year contract worth
approximately US$130 million for 21 crew
utility vessels to service Chevron`s
production logistics in the Gulf of Thailand.
MIO provides all of Chevron Thailand’s
crew utility vessel requirements as well as
several larger offshore support vessels. The
contract will be executed jointly by MIO
and its Thai joint venture, Uniwise
Offshore.
www.miclynexpressoffshore.com
NEWS IN BRIEF
Prosafe awarded two
contracts by Statoil
Petroleum AS:Safe
Scandinavia and
Regalia. The Safe
Scandinavia will
support
accommodation at
Snorre A in the
Norwegian sector of
the North Sea for a
nine-month firm
period. The Regalia will
be used for
accommodation
support at Svalin/
Grane in the
Norwegian sector of
the North Sea for a
five month firm period.
Gulf Drilling
International has
placed an order for a
Pacific Class 400 jack-
up drilling rig with PPL
Shipyard PTE Ltd for
delivery in March of
2013. The rig will be
able to accommodate
150 persons. It’s
claimed that this jack-
up will be the most
technologically
advanced drilling rig
operating in Qatar. The
total cost to place this
rig into service is
estimated at $250m.
The Clough AMEC joint
venture has been
awarded a contract
valued in excess of
A$30 million for the
Operability, Reliability
and Maintainability
(ORM) component of
the Chevron operated
Wheatstone Project
offshore facilities. Its
topsides include
support utility systems
and personnel facilities.
Maroc Telecom has
launched Loukkos, a
new fibre optic
submarine cable
linking Morocco to
Spain after the Atlas
Offshore cable was
damaged.
New Satellites to Help Fuel Growth in
the Pay TV & Maritime Industry
Bringing entertainment and vital comms to
improve the human experience, the SES-5
satellite has arrived at the Baikonur
Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Once
launched, the satellite will provide Ka band
uplink capability, allowing for flexible
operations between Europe and Africa.
SES-5 is designed to deliver high
performance and extensive coverage for
Direct-to-Home (DTH) services, broadband,
maritime communications, GSM backhaul,
and VSAT applications in Europe, Africa
and the Middle East.
Increasing popularity of direct-to-home
(DTH) satellite television, and a growing
demand for High Definition (HD) broadcast
content across Asia-Pacific, are driving the
demand for satellite capacity in the region.
The number of channels offered by DTH
platforms in Southeast Asia is projected to
reach 1,600 by 2016.
Seeking further growth opportunities SES
sees the potential to invest in one to two
additional satellites to deliver increased
satellite capacity and coverage in Asia-
Pacific beyond 2014.
www.ses.com
ZIM, which just celebrated 67 years in
service, will use its global network to
support more than 100 vessels, carrying
more than 2,000,000 containers yearly and
6,000 employees serving ports of call in
more than 120 countries. The shipping
container company selected Orange
Business Services to further its global
MPLS network to include: optimized
routing, guaranteed business continuity
and backup solutions, unified comms and
cloud computing services-ready platform
underpinned by SLAs.
www.zim.com
www.orange-business.com
©OffComm News ~ Autumn 2012 www.OffCommNews.com 5
NEWS IN BRIEF
1GB Connectivity For
Onboard Crew:
Personnel will now be
able to enjoy
websurfing and
chatting with friends &
family when away from
home.
Vizada has been
contracted by Danaos
Shipping Co. Ltd to
equip its 63 vessels
with full broadband.
The deal means that
the Danaos’ fleet will
benefit from high
speed internet and
telephone connectivity
via FleetBroadband.
For business and crew
communications needs
the partners will
provide 1GB
connectivity ~
enhanced by Vizada
Crew PC ~ for optimal
internet usage.
Prosafe has signed a
contract with BP
Exploration Operating
Company Ltd for the
use of Safe Caledonia
conducting
accommodation
support at the Andrew
Area Development
Project in the UK
sector of the North
Sea. On site operations
are planned to
commence end-2012,
with a firm period
through to end-August
2013.
Datasat
Communications has
launched a microsite
specifically for the
mining industry. Aimed
at professionals
responsible for
delivering comms
infrastructures to
remote mine sites, the
portal offers
information on the
communications
technologies and
services available to
mining organisations.
Award for Parallel Life Platform
A seafarer community-based, crew welfare
ICT solution has won SingTel Satellite a
third Seatrade Asia Innovation Award. The
objective was to create a parallel between
life and land and on sea with elements of
entertainment, social networking and
personal enrichment.
CrewXchange@SingTel is a lightweight,
widget-based portal providing access to
global, local and sports news, social media
applications such as Facebook and Twitter,
online communities, instant messaging,
web mail and e-learning.
It has been designed for seafarers and is
supported by bandwidth to ensure lower
data usage and cost savings.
CrewLink, a feature of the portal, provides
private communities which shipping
companies can setup to connect with its
fleets more efficiently. It includes facilities
for distributing information, initiating
forums around specific topics and serves as
a platform to create camaraderie amongst
its crew.
www.crew.singtel.com
The Quarterly OffComm News Round Up
Navy Gets 1st Onboard IP Video Entertainment System
Globecomm will deliver an enhanced communications distribution infrastructure for the
Navy’s newest nuclear super carrier, Gerald R. Ford (CVN78). The contract, valued at $3.5
million, represents a significant technological upgrade to the Navy’s existing analogue
system for video acquisition and onboard content delivery.
SITE TV, the first IP video system for the U.S. Navy fleet, will
provide cost savings along with enhanced quality, scalability
and flexibility to add future capabilities and services.
A 10G Cisco backbone will support the system as well as the
ship's video surveillance capabilities, providing sailors with access to live streaming media
options, multimedia programming access while at sea, as well as pier-side cable
services. Other capabilities include video on demand (VoD).
www.globecommsystems.com/maritime
Major Oil Companies Contract
Broadband Services
Data Technology Solutions, a provider of
communications services to the energy
industry, has received contractual
commitments for broadband services
from several major oil companies. The
work will support production locations,
motor vessel and drilling sites. The
company recently launched Advanced
Wireless Network ~ an ultrahigh
broadband capacity in six different oil
producing basins across the US and
GoM with network connections of up to
150 MB. It has the only certified antenna
mount which can be attached directly to
a drilling rig’s derrick, eliminating the
need for portable towers.
www.dtscom.com
Alliance Provides
VSAT Satellite
Network for
Global Maritime Industry
Imtech Marine and ITC Global have developed
a global VSAT network to deliver satellite
communications to the entire maritime
industry. Under the alliance, Imtech Marine
will supply, install and service shipboard
maritime electronics and communications
systems. ITC Global will design, supply and
provide engineering support for the global
satellite communications network. Eric van den
Adel, managing director of Imtech Marine:
“Our alliance with ITC Global means that our
maritime customers get the benefits of having
automatic beam switching and seamless
connectivity for their vessels across the globe.”
www.imtech.eu
©OffComm News ~ Autumn 2012 www.OffCommNews.com 6
Online
The digital version of OffComm
News is FREE to view, in
magazine format, from our
homepage. On the website you
will also find choice news and
extracts from articles featured
within the magazine.
The Publication
With A Purpose
OffComm News is an informative resource for
buyers and suppliers of telecommunications
destined for remote and harsh environments.
For telecoms, oil and gas companies, offshore
installation managers, communications specialists and
IT departments, OffComm News is the only magazine
to provide such essential quarterly insight and
reference material for the remote communications
industry ~ globally.
Offshore
Connecting operational critical
missions and the people based
in these harsh environments.
OffComm News is a trade
focussed magazine covering
a d v a n c e m e n t s i n
communications for remote
energy sites worldwide.
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Reference
Opportune
©OffComm News ~ Autumn 2012 www.OffCommNews.com 7
Mission-critical, hazardous area
operations demand mobile computing
solutions without compromising on
current industry leading technologies.
A safe handheld mobile computer ~ for
use in such environments ~ has been
launched by ecom instruments Inc. and
Intermec Inc.
The i.roc Ci70 -Ex is equipped with the
various worldwide certifications
required for explosive atmospheres and
offers rugged mobile computing .
Michael M. Haley, technology consultant,
BP Chief Technology Office said, “At BP,
we believe technology can make a
significant impact on the enterprise. We
focus on a few technologies with
immediate impact that will also benefit
long-term business needs. The
integration of current and emerging RF
communications for large industrial sites
could yield greater efficiencies for
business operations.”
News
Key features include:
Comprehensive wireless
networking capabilities including
WWAN (3G CDMA or UMTS via
the Qualcomm Gobi 3000
embedded module), WLAN (IEEE
802.11 a/b/g/n)
Bluetooth 2.1 for flexible data
exchange in areas with reception
challenges
Advanced, long-range bar code
imaging technology
Radio Frequency Identification
(RFID) capability through
modular design supporting
frequencies ranging from low to
ultra-high LF to UHF and ISO
standard
Global certifications from NEC
to ATEX and IECEx
The i.roc Ci70 -Ex Sold and distributed exclusively by ecom.
Explosive Mobile
Computing
Explosive
environments, such
as those found on
oil rigs, are among
the harshest and
most challenging
in which to
operate mobile
computing and
communications
devices.
Greater quantities of data can be
transferred from space to Earth faster
and over a longer period of time. Within
the scope of EDRS (European Data Relay
System) optical laser technology for data
transfer is planned to be put into
operation for the first time.
An information highway in space is
being established as a public-private
partnership between the European Space
Agency and Astrium as the main
contractor, operator and service
provider.
SES TechCom will supply four control
stations and data reception facilities to
be built on the premises of the earth
stations in Weilheim (DLR), Redu
(Belgium) and Harwell (UK).
All installations provided by SES
TechCom will work in the Ka frequency
band, which allows for the transfer,
storage and terrestrial relay of gigabits
of data.
EDRS will utilize two
geostationary relay satellites that
will record the high rate
communications data of lower
flying earth observation satellites
and transmit this data, without
significant time delays, to Earth.
Small laser communication
terminals will be employed that
can transfer up to 1.8 gigabit
over a distance of 45,000
kilometres, the equivalent of
about 100,000 printed A4 pages
per second. The contract is worth
EUR 11.5 million.
5, 4, 3, 2, 1
Information
Highway in Space
Gets Lift Off
Ground segment of the
European data relay
system is underway
©OffComm News ~ Autumn 2012 www.OffCommNews.com 8
Industry Experts Appointed
to Lead on Key Sectors
Recognising change in demand
key sectors have been prioritised
by Europe’s largest engineers’
body, the Institution of
Engineering and Technology (IET).
It has over 150,000 members in
127 countries.
The sectors provide a focal point for
engineers and technicians from all
disciplines to find relevant
communities, events and information.
Energy Sector
Dr Phillip
Cartwright has
been appointed
Chair of the
Energy sector. He
is a director of the
Laing O’Rourke,
Engineering Excellence Group.
Commenting, he said, "Conflicting
challenges, to achieve greater
sustainability, security of supply and
affordability in energy provision, are
driving an upsurge of innovation
and investment in energy
infrastructure, making this a time of
huge challenge and opportunity for
the profession.”
www.theiet.org
Information &
Communications Sector
Professor Will
Stewart has been
appointed Chair of
the Information &
Communications
sector. He is also
Chair of the IET
Communications
Policy Panel.
“This is a great opportunity to make
the institution more responsive,
develop new events and services
and better co-ordinate existing
ones. Globalisation and the 'death
of distance' are in many respects
the result of work in our sector and
we should lead the field in
providing anywhere/anytime access
to the tremendous resources of the
IET, that can really help members
develop their professional skills and
advance their careers,” he said.
Nessco Group almost doubles
turnover to over £33 million
following an international
business drive.
News
£7m Contracts Secured for
Oil and Gas Telco Specialist
Two significant project contracts
worth £7 million were secured
with major oil and gas operators
in Iraq. The projects include the
testing of telecoms systems.
Ian McPherson, managing director
of Nessco Group said: “We have
invested in business development
resources and increased staff
numbers and expect to take on a
further 20 people this year
including engineers and
technicians. The latest project wins
in Iraq confirm our capability for
delivering integrated telecoms
solutions anywhere in the world."
One project will support a new
offshore manifold and metering
platform in Al-Basrah. The
company will provide a full range
of telecoms systems to keep the
platform fully connected from
satellite and meterological systems
to CCTV, telephone and radio
technology.
A second project is for a large
development in the Majnoon field
(southern Iraq) with the first stage
including voice and data systems,
internet, security and
meteorological technology.
www.nesscogroup.com
©OffComm News ~ Autumn 2012 www.OffCommNews.com 9
In refineries, where radios are either banned under
health and safety regulations or could be
potentially hazardous, Zentron’s Model 390 gives
personnel full access to TETRA radio network
functionality while keeping RF emissions away
from the critical areas.
The device has the form factor of a conventional desk
phone, but gives users access to TETRA functionality.
Interfaces are currently available for Motorola MTM800e,
800, 700 and 300 TETRA radios.
Up to 15 Zetron Model 390s can be connected by
conventional Cat 5 cable to a single TETRA radio located
up to 600 metres away, reducing deployment and
installation costs and keeps RF emissions away from
sensitive equipment.
An optional interface module enables out-of-coverage or
remote access to TETRA networks via dial-up telephony,
ISDN or private circuit.
Extending TETRA networks to the desktop in areas where RF is potentially hazardous or impractical. Model 390 minimises the risk of EMC/EMI disruption by keeping radios away from sensitive equipment and helps maintain cost efficiency by using existing phone wiring instead of expensive antenna cabling.
Motorola Solutions has added a
series of MTP3000 handheld
radios to its TETRA portfolio in
answer to demand for increased
safety and reliability. The devices
come with improvements in
audio quality, increased network
coverage, ruggedness and ease
of use.
The new radios offer the highest
receiver sensitivity in the market (a -
2db increase on all existing TETRA
radios), which allows a 14 percent
range increase and a 30 percent
boost to network coverage, when
c ompa r ed to a Eu r ope an
Telecommunications Standards
Institute specification radio.
Designed to deliver superior audio
quality, optimum audio loudness,
and clarity of voice, a superior
microphone system ensures that
users can hear and be heard clearly
even in the noisiest environments.
There are three model options
ranging from entry level through to
high end user requirements.
MTP3100
For organizations looking for the
benefits of TETRA without the need
for advanced communication or data
sharing features that require a
keypad. User scenarios include
security patrols maintaining contact
with supervisors or maintenance
teams coordinating operations
across large industrial or processing
installations.
MTP3200
Communications to entry level users
working in mission critical
environments that need radio
alongside other data-centric devices:
for example, oil and gas industry
inspection teams in hazardous
chemical or production installations
with constant high noise levels.
Bluetooth connectivity offers
ope r a t i ona l f l e x ib i l i t y and
productivity in the field with wire
free accessories and connection to
scanners, printers and mobile
computing devices. It features GPS
so that staff can be tracked during
f ie ld operat ions in dif f icult
neighborhoods or hazardous
industrial environments.
MTP3250
The high-end series includes: Radio
Messaging Service; A Call Out
function (allowing operators to send
out a message with a guaranteed
response); full telephony capability
so the radio can act as a telephone
for calls in and out of the TETRA
network.
TETRA News: Terrestrial Trunked Radio
Safer, Tougher TETRA
Desk TETRA
©OffComm News ~ Autumn 2012 www.OffCommNews.com 10
©OffComm News ~ Autumn 2012 www.OffCommNews.com 11
Company Feature
A pioneer in satellite service provision,
Datasat has found opportunity within
independent bandwidth since its inception.
The sector foresight story continues today,
as we discovered after speaking with Bernie
Branfield, Datasat’s general manager, who
believes that a future lies in hybrid
communications.
The fact that equipment for independent satellite
communication was rather expensive and complicated,
during the 1980s, didn't deter Phil Emmel. It was while
working on the London Stock Exchange that he had the
entrepreneurial insight to set up Datasat and provide
satellite communications to blue chip clients.
For the first twelve years the company was a small
organisation operating in a huge marketplace, delivering
projects right alongside the main players. Moving into
satcom services shaped the next half of the company’s
life. Datasat was the first independent satellite network
on the Intelsat fleet anywhere in the world. At one point
it was the second largest purchaser of satellite capacity
in the UK just behind BT (British Telecom).
Then, in 1999, the company won a contract to operate
the British foreign and Commonwealth Office VSAT
global network. Datasat was the primary provider to the
Commonwealth for ten years and still serves some 30
embassies. Other customers include: Irish Republic of
Foreign Affairs, New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs
and Trade and Airwave Solutions (UK emergency
services).
Since the beginning, 25 years ago, Datasat
Communications has incorporated terrestrial, wireless
and hybrid communications networks.
“The future for almost all communications is a hybrid: a
mixture of terrestrial and satellite communications. Our
managed file transfer service has a mechanism within it
which will pick the least cost route, be it by internet,
terrestrially or satellite as a broadcast file. We’re
building these types of solutions in a move to become
more of a hybrid operator, delivering the best mix of
technology.” Cont.../
Client Sectors
Government
communications
Large mining operations
Financials
Established in 1987 Datasat,
a privately owned company,
has grown to a turnover of
nearly £15m in 2011.
Headquarters
Operations Centre
Brookmans Park
Transmission Station
Great North Road
Hatfield, Herts
AL9 6NE, UK
The Group
Datasat Communications
Datasat Digital Entertainment
Datasat Technologies
Named the 13th largest independent provider of Teleport
services in the world by the World Teleport Association,
Datasat concentrates its business in three key areas:
Remote Communications
Provision of secure point-to-point
communications for government
organisations across the globe as
well as low cost, distributed voice
and data applications to the
remote offices of large
international businesses.
Network Services
An end-to-end service to install
and operate an effective remote
communications network.
Managed File Transfer
With multimedia content now
commonplace for most corporate
organisations, Datasat handles
digital video and live streaming
content as well as the transfer of
large data files.
©OffComm News ~ Autumn 2012 www.OffCommNews.com 12
Company Feature
Hybrid Communications
Datasat envisages providing service operations for
people who want to make use of hybrid
communications. An example comes from 2003 when
the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs (IDFA) required a
network to connect the majority of its embassies and
diplomatic posts around the world. The objective was to
provide fixed data rate connections to all posts by the
most economic means. Datasat was responsible for the
design of a hub and VSAT network that would provide
voice, video conferencing and data services to IDFA’s
global users. In Europe this was achieved via third party
fiber. Across other regions VSAT was deployed via
platform services on several satellites. Working with fixed
data rate connections and security stipulations, with
dedicated connections to each site, the resulting network
consisted of 25 sites using six satellites and 25 sites
across Europe on terrestrial connections.
“Ten years ago, satellite was likely to be the only
technology available to deliver the performance and
security required at an affordable cost. In many cases, a
rugged and easily deployable VSAT satellite network will
still be the most appropriate solution. Yet more and
more, wireless communications ~ and hybrid networks of
terrestrial and non-terrestrial technologies ~ are offering
viable and cost-effective solutions for remote comms”
says Bernie (pictured).
The next area of marketing for Datasat looks like it will
be in security for government and surveillance sectors,
bridging existing work that it has already established.
Over the next five years could also become more active
in educational distribution for the third world.
“We’ve developed a file transfer product
over the last four years as part of the
European Union project. While that
technology was developed for the
cinema industry*, it has a key role to
play in distributing educational media to
t h e d e ve l op i n g wo r l d whe r e
communications aren’t currently that
great, yet where people are hungry for education.
Additionally, the mining sector is often required to
support or develop the local population, for example
with medical, educational and transport improvements.
Datasat is working to help this industry pass on
connectivity benefits to the local communities by
collaborating to develop opportunities.”
*Datasat Digital Entertainment
distributes film soundtracks to cinemas
Cont.../
The story so far
1987 – 1996
Datasat Communications Ltd founded.
Contract services provided to the growing
VSAT satellite market, working on
pioneering satellite networks in industries
such as broadcasting and finance.
1996
Datasat Communications becomes a
direct access customer to Intelsat,
enabling it to provide turnkey satellite
services.
Begins offering bandwidth procurement
services to clients.
1997
Delivers its first end-to-end VSAT satellite
network solution for a Middle East based
publishing organisation.
2000
Partners with large communications
organisation.
Begins provision of satellite services for a
substantial embassy network.
Appointment of Roger Madeville to
manage embassy contracts.
2002
Chris Stevens appointed North London
teleport and field engineer team leader.
Frank Overton appointed Hampshire
teleport manager.
2003
Company begins to develop global VSAT
and terrestrial network for a second
embassy.
Bernie Branfield appointed technical
manager progressing to general manager.
2004
Begins to provide VSAT satellite services
to a communications organisation that is
delivering a network of critical national
importance.
Built content sharing and distribution
broadcast network for SAIC to enable
Iraqi Media Networks.
Designed and operated a broadcast
service for IMN on Arabsat to the region.
2005
Datasat begins to manage its own pool of
bandwidth to increase the flexibility of its
service offering.
2006
Built North Africa VSAT network.
2007
Commenced operations for a major
network news organisation’s European
distribution service.
2008
Diversifies into the digital cinema market
with the formation of Datasat Digital
Entertainment, created by acquiring the
cinema division of DTS Inc.
2009
Extends capabilities within managed
bandwidth and VSAT network resilience
and implements the solution within a
nationally important network.
2010
Creates sister company, Datasat
Technologies, to explore and develop
carrier grade wireless products, extending
the company’s end-to-end services
capability and address the growing need
for hybrid, multi-technology networks.
2011
Enters the mining sector with the
provision of robust VSAT solutions
deployed into extremely harsh
environments in West Africa.
2012
Named in Investec
‘Hot 100’ of fastest
growing UK
companies.
©OffComm News ~ Autumn 2012 www.OffCommNews.com 13
Company Feature
Welfare High on the List
With many organisations operating in remote regions,
where local villagers can become a source of labour
within the mine, corporate social responsibility has
grown in importance. Similar to supplying wellbeing
services to on-site personnel, some mine operators are
beginning to use the same systems to deliver services to
nearby villages such as distance learning, entertainment
and internet access.
Recognising the importance of
wellbeing, concerning remote
workers on site for weeks or months
at a time, at a minimum separate
voice and email services are
required to keep in touch with
family and friends.
Datasat also recognises that these
data services need to be supplied
completely separately ~ as web
surfing and services such as Skype
can transgress governance policy
on the corporate network. “This element, of providing
such services for remote crews, is often third or fourth
on the list of requirements from our clients,” says Bernie.
While business operations take priority, Datasat enabled
an operator in Africa to pass on network benefits to
personnel once the main corporate operations had
ceased for the day.
“It’s useful for our clients to be able to offer welfare
services. If they have a lot of bandwidth, and realise
some surplus, rather than let it go to waste it makes
sense to pass it on to the remote workforce.
“We see WAN usage throughout the evening hours. At
the big work camps, use at that time is higher than it is
during office hours. The guys on the ground at work
over there really appreciate it.”
www.datasat.com
“We know
that we
provide a
service that’s
suitable for
Skype.”
Cricket scores,
local news online
and Skype are
accessed in the
evening by
workers with
families at home
to keep in touch
©OffComm News ~ Autumn 2012 www.OffCommNews.com 14
Diary Dates Where Technology
& Energy Connect
6 – 18 Oct 2012
Broadband World Forum
Amsterdam RAI Convention Centre
Amsterdam, The Netherlands
www.broadbandworldforum.com
Following on from the hugely successful 2011 event, the
2012 event is guaranteed to be the largest yet with
10,000+ visitors expected. Broadband World Forum is
undoubtedly the premier annual industry event and the
largest of its kind in the world. The event, now in its 12th
year, is the most respected in the region’s telecoms
calendar and a comprehensive agenda includes breakfast
briefings, 3 co-located summits, keynote plenary
sessions and a choice of 4 tracks for delegates each day
as well as the exhibition area.
11-13 Sept 2012
Submarine Networks World
Marina Bay Sands, Singapore
www.terrapinn.com/subnets
Submarine Networks World is a conference dedicated
to the global submarine cable industry, featuring CXOs
from the largest and most reputable organisations from
all around the world. Each year, the event brings
together over 300 cable owners and manufacturers,
wholesale carriers, technology vendors and consultants.
For the 2012 programme, you can look forward to hear
project updates on ASE, Pacific Fibre, OptiKor, Project
Express, Arctic Fibre, BRICS, Palau, EPEG and more.
2-3 Oct 2012
Telecoms World Middle East
The Atlantis, Dubai, UAE.
www.terrapinn.com/twme
The region's largest conference for telecom CEOs. After
seven successful years, Telecoms World Middle East is
back to tackle the biggest issues bursting out of telco
boardrooms. Operators will come together and discover
how to build the telco agenda, drive industry innovation
and create the services of tomorrow. Join over 600
attendees to discuss the tools and strategy to help you
navigate through the changing landscape of the
increasingly competitive telecoms industry.
19-22 Sept 2012
MTB Workboats
Marriott Courtyard, Dubai
www.coplandevents.com
MTB is a highly focused programme of one to one
appointments between senior managers/directors,
technical purchasing managers, general managers,
operations managers and other individuals responsible
for purchasing within workboat companies together
with supplier companies from all areas of the industry
including: workboat owners and operators, supply boats
(OSV/PSV), dredgers, tugs, AHTS, survey vessels, fishing
vessels, pontoons, cranes, floating cranes, barges, jack
up rigs, ROVs, river, coastal, short sea barges etc.
8-11 Oct 2012
Gastech Conference &
Exhibition 2012
ExCeL London
www.gastech.co.uk
Tel: +44 (0) 203 615 2842
Celebrating its 26th edition in London, Gastech this year
has the backing of Host Sponsor BG Group, as well as
Associate Sponsors Bechtel, CB&I, ConocoPhillips,
Nigeria LNG Ltd, RasGas and Yemen LNG Company. The
event brings together commercial and technical industry
professionals for unrivalled networking, new business
opportunities, the exchange of ideas and to showcase
the latest innovations, technologies and developments
across the gas value chain. Gastech is the premier
industry event in the global gas calendar, attracting
more than 10, 000 international delegates.
24-27 Oct 2012
MTB Oil and
Gas Americas, USA
www.coplandevents.com
Tel: +44(0)1276 682 898
The MTB Oil & Gas forum is heading back to Dallas,
Texas and dedicated to the Americas.
Events for quality global networking & real live innovation
©OffComm News ~ Autumn 2012 www.OffCommNews.com 15
©OffComm News ~ Autumn 2012 www.OffCommNews.com 16
The ToughBook
Just Got Tougher Designed to access applications and data in
extreme mobile computing environments, the
Toughbook CF-31 is rugged enough for those
working in adverse weather, wet conditions
or a cramped environment.
With screen visibility, even in direct sunlight, the
Toughbook CF-31 from Panasonic has a floating mounted
LCD design to protect it from screen shocks. Drop tested,
its magnesium alloy casing and an anti-scratch coating
means that the CF-31 remains the toughest Toughbook
to date. With water, dust, vibration and temperature
protection it has an impressive IP65, MIL STD 810G
rating.
It’s equipped with a Bluetooth® connection and
SuperSpeed USB 3.0 ports for data transfer rates up to 10
times faster than hi speed USB 2.0.
For security purposes, the CF-31 also comes with an
enhanced concealed mode for use in mission critical
environments. At the touch of a button the fan,
backlight, status LEDs, speakers and communication (3G,
W-LAN, Bluetooth) can be disabled.
Availability and pricing
The CF-31 range is available from July 2012, with the
Standard model retailing at €3.699 MSRP (exc vat).
©OffComm News ~ Autumn 2012 www.OffCommNews.com 17
Insight
As the maturing engineering sector heads towards
retirement, oil companies look to specialist recruiters
to fill the gaps. It’s a highly skilled job and finding the
right people can be challenging. Another rising issue is
that the younger generation is not only internet savvy,
it is more ‘naturally’ affiliated with social media. It is
somewhat surprising for fresh recruits to find that
working in remote environments can often mean being
cut off from the daily digital digit action they’re used
to on their smart phones, iPads and laptops.
What is even more surprising is the documentation on
this topic ~ especially since the social media
phenomenon. For this Insight feature, OffComm News
set out to discover how connectivity challenges are
affecting the workforce and their families.
©OffComm News ~ Autumn 2012 www.OffCommNews.com 18
Research Resonates
From Last Century Many different occupations mean that one part of a
family is away from home, regularly or irregularly, for
periods of time. For example the armed forces,
merchant navy, long distance drivers, deep sea fishing,
and the offshore workers. An absent ~ or ‘intermittent’
~ husband can mean dislocation of the familiar pattern
of family life. Stress can be thrown on to the remaining
members of the family (partners and/or older children),
resulting in physical or emotional complaints.
When OffComm News decided to look into the effects
of an available connection for workers in remote
environments we wanted to consider usage and the
positive effect on personnel moral. What was
discovered was surprising. Firstly, the latest research we
could find at the time of going to press was from the
last century; and secondly an industry term that
indicates only men work in these environments. In 1985,
The British Journal of Psychiatry published a report
entitled: Oil wives and intermittent husbands. Another
report, similarly titled: The Intermittent Husband, The
impact of home and away occupations on wives and
partners; includes extracts from other works ranging
from 1978 - 2000.
Times have moved on. Not only in terms of the entry of
female engineers and operators to more remote
locations, but also in terms of the technology and
connectivity available to most of the world’s users
today.
Since these reports emerged, so have a multitude of
devices and methods for communicating. The likes of
Facebook and Skype have catapulted messaging, video
enabled phone calls to reach out and keep in touch.
What’s more, many people now rely on internet
enabled communication to conduct their everyday lives
regardless of whether they’re at home or away. For
example, updating car insurance, using online banking,
ecommerce, researching where to go on holiday etc...
None of these elements feature in any research that we
could find, simply because they were unheard of at the
time that the studies were conducted.
Cont.../
The pay is great, the job is highly specialised and
respected, the time off between contracts or crew
changes is favourable. What’s not to like?
Responsibility: “Last night our little boy was sick most of the night. If [my husband] was here he could share the burden. I really miss him at times like that, when you’ve got to take the whole works on your shoulder.”
Desertion, abandonment,
intermittent family
involvement, anxiety and
depression. These are just
some of the affects
experienced when one
family member works
away from home in
remote places.
Loneliness: “Being an oil wife is like being a one parent family without the financial worry. I get tired having to cope on my own and very rarely can I make the effort to go out at evenings or weekends. We both enjoy the two weeks he is at home, although there are tensions because we both have to adapt.”
Insight
©OffComm News ~ Autumn 2012 www.OffCommNews.com 19
Not so social media
What is likely to remain unchanged however, is the
psychological effect that working away for long periods
of time can have on a person, their family and their
everyday lives. We suspect that, with the addition of
social media and a massive shift towards online
communication ~ thanks to the internet ~ these
elements are likely to be heightened should the same
type of research be conducted today.
A report from British Journal of Psychiatry cites: The
incidence of turbulence and distress in at least some
families was confirmed by continuing clinical experience.
One GP, whose practice includes a large proportion of
oil families, expressed concern at the level of demand
made upon her by oil wives and the apparently high
incidence among them of alcohol abuse, stress related
illnesses and behavioural problems regarding their
children.
Intermittent Husband is a term, coined by Morrice and
Taylor (1978), which describes symptoms of anxiety,
depression and sexual difficulties, which occur as a
result of frequent partings and reunions between a wife
and a husband. Long distance commuting (LDC) and fly
in and fly out (FIFO) workforces are also included in the
effects of intermittent husbands.
A published description of the Intermittent
Husband Syndrome evoked wide interest and
recognition. Oil company medical officers, GPs,
social workers and marriage guidance
counsellors all affirmed awareness of its
existence.
When the absent person returns home, there is a period
of readjustment. Assuming they are away for two weeks
and home for two weeks, with a day’s travel either side,
the time at home becomes 12 days. Research indicates
that reconnecting with family and spouses takes two to
three days, followed by a period of sustained home life
before stresses begin again in the two or three days
leading up to the person returning to work. This leaves
just one week of ‘normal’ family relations.
Difficulties with bringing up children have been noted for
this kind of scenario. In a review of long distance
commuting in the mining industry (A Wife’s Point of
View, La Forte 1991) it was highlighted that discipline is
the responsibility of the wife while the husband is away.
Cont.../
“When the husband returns he wants to maintain the hero’s image and deters from disciplining the children. This can create conflict between wife and husband and confusion for the younger members of the family.” Extract from The Intermittent Husband, Impact of home and away occupations on wives and partners. Hubinger, Parker and Clavarino.
Insight
©OffComm News ~ Autumn 2012 www.OffCommNews.com 20
Insight
Monday
Two hour shaky helicopter ride. Arrived at the rig. Sorted out locker room, went for lunch then straight into briefing room for induction and safety walkabout. Started work right after. Aware that my wife Abi at home will be watching the news and the weather forecast was bad. No time to phone and tell her I've arrived safely. Will call later.
Tuesday
6am. Shower, breakfast, morning meeting, toolbox talk then onto job set up. Lunchtime, phones too busy (queue of 5 people in the corridor where the public phone is) ~ no privacy. Will try again at end of shift (6.30pm). Straight to canteen for dinner. Gym, shower. Checked phone situation. Too busy (again). Finally got through at 9pm. Abi tired, our son Josh was already in bed. Call time restricted to 10 minutes. Not much of a chat. Feel isolated.
Wednesday
Watched a movie while waiting for a phone slot. Finally got on at 9.30pm. Abi in bed already. Might as well do the same. Hope we can have a proper chat tomorrow. Missing my family.
Thursday
I forgot Abi was out tonight (that’s why no answer, phew!). Typical as there was only a short queue. Checked email, Abi had messaged re: trouble with Josh at school. Feel bad I can’t be there to help.
Friday
Rang home at 6.15am (this is usually the quietest time (lowest queue at the phone) to wish Abi a happy birthday & discuss Josh situation. She was sleepy but appreciated it. Spoke briefly at lunchtime. Heard Josh playing up in the background ~ difficult to talk as she was distracted. Josh came to say ‘hi’. Just got to ask how school was but realised time was up. Off back to work. Fed up already & it’s not even one week in.
Saturday
Went to rec room after shift to try and get online. Half hour slots allocated when busy. Thankfully only a 20 minute wait for a computer station. Slow connection. Checked emails and facebook. Need to try & renew car tax online tomorrow, ran out of time today.
Sunday
Rain stopped the job for three hours this morning. Phoned Abi and Josh which was great. Feel much brighter. Managed to get online for an hour! (no queue either as everyone else working). Shift finished at 6.30pm. Dinner, gym, TV in rec room, bed.
Monday
Half way! Eight days in and seven to go. Wanted to get online to see the photos from Abi’s birthday on Facebook. Too many people around and a long queue. Will try again later this evening.
Sample of a communications diary of a typical offshore work scenario. Names have been changed.
An Offshore Worker’s Diary
One element that could ease this intermittent lifestyle
is increased communication with home while working
away. Our own investigations have provided evidence
that almost all remote crews (over 90%) wanted more
internet access and privacy with connectivity in their
cabins. The issues that affect the ease of connectivity
include: bandwidth availability and cost, security and
safety, much of which is understood by the corporate
industries, and well covered by OffComm News (Spring
2012 issue).
It is true that being able to see partners and children,
on Skype for example, could help both sides feel more
connected with each other. The simple means of being
able to: enquire about: a child’s day at school; the
health, wealth and wellbeing of family and friends;
sharing parental responsibilities more often; be
involved on the precious days of a baby’s first steps
(even if via video link); shoulder some of the decision
making and sharing financial decision with the partners
who are left holding the fort, could help ease the
transition when it comes to returning home.
Recruiters have also commented that it is becoming
harder to find skilled, younger workers to head off to
remote places. And once found it is also tough to hang
on to them. These people represent a sub group of
connectivity users for the telecoms market. OffComm
News carried a feature (Winter 2011 issue) which
discussed the potential value of the sub group of users
which may be of interest to the telecoms market.
What is clear, especially since the rise of
‘online living’, is that it is time for fresh
research into the remote workers lives with
regard to the effects that access to
communications facilities have on crew
moral, safety and staff retention.
©OffComm News ~ Autumn 2012 www.OffCommNews.com 21
The Offshore Installation Manager (OIM): The ultimate
authority during his/her shift and makes the essential
decisions regarding the operation of the platform
Operations Team Leader (OTL): Co-ordinator of projects
on board (project management)
Offshore Operations Engineer (OOE): The senior
technical authority on the platform
Dynamic Positioning Operator: Responsible for
navigation, ship or vessel manoeuvring (MODU), station
keeping, fire and gas systems operations in the event of
incidents
2nd & 3rd Mates: Meets manning requirements of flag
state, operates fast rescue craft, cargo ops, fire team
leaders
Ballast Control Operators, as well as fire and gas
systems operators
Core Crew: Responsible for lifting operations, helideck
operations, lifeboats, muster drills, waste management
and general day to day platform duties
Medics: The onboard medical personnel.
Scaffolders: Those who erect scaffolding when work is
required at height or otherwise inaccessible areas.
Rope Access Teams: These teams use ropes to scale the
insides and outsides of rigs, often dangling above the
sea, for inspection, painting and maintenance tasks
Control Room Operators: Coordinates and prioritises
the daily work scopes in line with installation
requirements.
Catering Crews: Including people tasked with
performing essential living services on board such as
cooking, laundry and cleaning the cabin accommodation
Production Techs: This team runs the the production
plant
Helicopter Pilots: The helicopter flight crews transport
crews on regular shift patterns to other platforms or
back to the shore.
Maintenance Technicians (instrument, electrical,
mechanical) and Drill crews will be onboard if the
installation is performing drilling operations and include:
Toolpushers, Roughnecks, Roustabouts, Mud Engineers,
Derrickhands and Geologists
Get Crewed Up With Our Guide The size and composition of the crew of an offshore installation varies greatly from platform to platform.
Between 100 to 600 crew personnel can be employed to work a rig at any one time.
Due to the expensive, and intensive, nature of operating an offshore oil rig it is important to maximise productivity 24
hours a day. This means two crew sets onboard working 12 hour shifts. These workforces will change out at regular
intervals, usually every two weeks although this too can vary and extend into months, depending on the nature of
work, site location and employer requirements. The common thread is that all these people are away from home for
long periods of time. Connectivity is vital for moral, safety and getting the job done.
Know Your Sub Group Users?
Check out the Winter
edition of OffComm
News to find out how
to extract potential
millions in revenue
from this sector. $
©OffComm News ~ Autumn 2012 www.OffCommNews.com 22
Welfare IT Systems
Imtech Marine (Radio Holland Netherlands) has been
awarded an extensive contract from Jack-Up Barge for
the communication and IT systems of its new build, self-
elevating platform JB-118. The contract comprises the
PA intercom and alarm system, VSAT network, PABX
central telephone system and the total navigation,
communication and entertainment package, including
IPTV and satellite television.
The barge typically has 50 to 80
crew onboard of different
nationalities and they would all
like to watch their favourite TV
shows on different stations.
Paul Koole, project manager E&I, Jack-Up Barge, a
supplier of self elevating platforms for the energy and
heavy civil construction markets, comments: “The JB-117
is working on a three-year contract on a wind farm in
the North Sea. Jack-Up Barge recognises that this
access to television and the internet is very important
for crew welfare. The crew work very hard on long shifts
and need to be able to relax.”
News
2DAY Telecom expands GSM
backhaul in Kazakhstan with SES
Kazakhstan is to benefit from a long term capacity
agreement between 2DAY Telecom and SES. It means
that comms reach wlll expand to help meet the growing
needs of GSM backhaul services throughout the country.
Viktor Gryban, CEO of 2DAY Telecom, said: "As mobile
communications continues to be the one of the fastest
growing sectors in Kazakhstan, satellite is being
established as one of the most reliable forms of
infrastructure that can overcome geographical barriers
and provide extensive coverage. NSS-12's high-powered
dedicated beam provides excellent coverage over
Kazakhstan, allowing us to expand our services into new
regions within the country."
Capacity utilisation was increased aboard SES' NSS-12
satellite by 50 percent to 54 MHz in an effort to deliver
mobile communication services over challenging
mountainous terrain. NSS-12 is also used to meet the
country's increasing demand for GSM.
Norbert Hölzle, senior vice president, commercial Europe
of SES, said: "SES is proud that 2DAY Telecom continues
to rely on SES know-how and satellite capacity to
provide vital communication services across the country.
Together 2DAY Telecom and SES will connect the people
of Kazakhstan regardless of where they live."
2DAY Telecom is a subsidiary of VimpelCom in
Kazakhstan, which provides voice and data services via
wireless, fixed and broadband in Russia, Ukraine,
Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Georgia, Armenia,
Kyrgyzstan, Vietnam and Cambodia.
VSAT Satellite
Communications for the
Global Maritime Industry
Imtech Marine and ITC Global have developed a
global VSAT network to deliver satellite
communications to the entire maritime industry.
Under the alliance, Imtech Marine will supply, install
and service shipboard maritime electronics and
communications systems. ITC Global will design,
supply and provide engineering support for the
global satellite communications network. Together,
Imtech Marine and ITC Global will offer complete
solutions for the maritime sector.
Headquartered in Rotterdam, Imtech Marine is a
service provider and system integrator of
technology solutions for the whole ship. ITC Global,
a provider of VSAT satellite communications
services to the mining, energy, maritime and
enterprise markets worldwide is based in St.
Petersburg, Florida.
Eric van den Adel, managing director of Imtech
Marine: “Our alliance with ITC Global means that
our maritime customers get the benefits of having
automatic beam switching and seamless
connectivity for their vessels across the globe.”
New Build
Platform to
Include TV and
Internet for Crew
©OffComm News ~ Autumn 2012 www.OffCommNews.com 23
©OffComm News ~ Autumn 2012 www.OffCommNews.com 24
A resource for buyers and suppliers of telecommunications
destined for remote & harsh environments
©OffComm News ~ Autumn 2012 www.OffCommNews.com 25
In Print. Online. Offshore.
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Connectivity has a direct impact on just about every corporate bottom line.
Some business operations are conducted in highly challenging locations
and, for them, a whole new spectrum of issues ~ and innovations ~ arise.
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©OffComm News ~ Autumn 2012 www.OffCommNews.com 26
A Class 1, Div 2 modified
iPad can bring direct
benefits to the energy
sector’s bottom line
A major oil and gas company has integrated
multiple modified iPads with its production
operations team, allowing them to monitor the
day to day operation of the FPSO.
The company can analyze data and make
production decisions in response to minute-to-
minute conditions in real-time from the event
room located in a corporate office. Using a
modified iPad the company calculates that it
will save millions of dollars in travel, labor costs
and downtime ~ money that could be used to
hire more engineers and expand into new areas
of exploration and production.
With technology changing as rapidly
as it has been, and continues to do
so, there seems to be a growing
concern that IT needs cannot keep
up. We should take a hard look at
why we have created IT groups in
the first place: To support the
organization with technology. And
that technology should not be a
burden. IT groups should also
ensure that the next work area is
supported by the needs of the user
and the job at hand.
For example, when entering a work
area, what does the user expect?
Most will explain their task, such as:
well planning, seismic interpretation,
real-time drilling, design review,
equipment maintenance etc.
What they don’t talk about is how
much memory they have on their
device, what type of network is
being used, what connectivity is
available and so forth.
These were all issues raised by IT
groups. However, often in the case
of the next generation worker, it is
assumed that IT issues are
addressed and taken care of.
Challenges
The digital oil field [DOF] is now a
necessity in the oil and gas industry.
We need to start thinking of the
people who are the decision makers
and the expert users. When we
address C-level executives and
professionals ~ whose disciplines are
production enhancement, project
management, real-time drilling and
monitoring ~ the focus should be
on the business value and time
savings.
Technology, such as smartphones
and touch pads, have become
normal tools of everyday life.
These tools will most likely address
the sector issues we face and
become part of normal day-by-day
operations. With exploration and
production becoming more
challenging, the need to understand
software and firmware upgrades,
from OEMs, are paramount. Large
equipment such as BOPs,
drawworks, cranes, top drives,
mooring winches, mud pumps, etc.,
all have software controls and
require periodic updates.
Companies in the energy sector are
challenged with ongoing software
upgrades as well as new
government regulations associated
with technology and equipment
maintenance.
Cont…/
The Rugged
Class1 Div2
Modified
iPad
Feature
©OffComm News ~ Autumn 2012 www.OffCommNews.com 27
Other challenges in the industry
concern: the shrinking, more mature
and expert workforce; new
generation workers and how they
utilize technology. The next influx of
personnel already live in a digital
society and expect to plug into their
data anytime and anywhere.
The incoming workers also need to
gain field experience and knowledge
from their senior colleagues or
Subject Matter Experts (SMEs).
Rapidly changing technology
brings growing concerns about
technology assurance.
If a teenager, who then grows up
and enters the workforce, can go to
a store to buy a Wii or Xbox and
return home and plug it in without a
manual, or buy a smartphone or
iPad and completely take advantage
of its features without a manual, we
should be able to accommodate
that mentality in the energy
industry. Again this is the new
generation employee, and the new
DOF needs to implement with them
in mind.
Currently the DOF is now
utilized in industry but within its
own sectors. The sector needs
to breakdown the silos between
companies and disciplines.
Although many DOF technologies
are specific to the oil industry
(utilizing ruggedized mobile
devices), a data-rich approach could
be valuable in any engineering
driven sector, especially those
experiencing a similar labor crunch.
New levels of automation and
insight into the plant operation
could yield enormous benefit.
However, such a change is not
without challenges. Getting
employees to embrace a new
operating method is one of the
biggest hurdles in implementing the
DOF or any similar system. As
companies revamp their processes,
to make the best use of new
technology, so do the
responsibilities of highly technical
and analytical people.
The availability of these
technologies, when combined with a
unique practical approach could
allow exploration professionals to
connect to production professionals;
drilling supervisors to connect with
field personnel and OEMs; and SMEs
to connect and train field personnel.
These capabilities are all real-time
and can be delivered cost effectively.
The key is delivering today’s
proven technology, not just
cutting edge (expensive)
options, and offering faster and
more simple solution
deployment that doesn’t break
the bank.
Everyday collaborative devices such
as smartphones and touch pads are
used by the majority of the working
population. Tools such as Skype,
GoToMeeting, the cloud, etc. are
often now the communication tools
of choice.
Cont…/
Considerations Checklist
for Comms Upgrades
Ease of use
Anticipated data volumes
Link speeds
Concurrent user requirements
Capital outlay
Operational costs ongoing
Coverage and availability
Future system demands
eg: communications on the move
53% Have No Remote
Collaboration Policy
A study among CIOs and IT managers, by Talk &
Vision in cooperation with Nyenrode Business
University, identified that while a majority of Dutch
organizations acknowledge the importance of proper
remote collaboration technologies fewer than half
have a policy in place.
As remote collaboration is expected to increase, Joost
Deckers, managing director at Talk & Vision said:
“Organizations are starting a new way of collaborating
that also needs to work optimally over distances. We
meet organizations which still make starter mistakes,
for example by investing in means that don’t fit the
organization’s collaboration structure.
“Right now it’s important to gain insight to that
structure and adjust the policy so that unnecessary
investments are prevented."
Feature
©OffComm News ~ Autumn 2012 www.OffCommNews.com 28
Taking Advantage of Mobility
The oil and gas industry involves
extensive travel of personnel to rig
sites both offshore and onshore. A
lightweight, hard wearing and
portable device, that allows users to
access data, would be useful for this
industry. However, these devices
would require an IP68 enclosure
sealing against water, oil and mud
as well as Class 1, Div 2 independent
certification. Due to the amount of
personnel involved within the
industry, these mobile devices also
need to be affordable.
The integrity of data is paramount
and it needs to be secure at all
times. This involves all devices to
have enterprise solution server
based software to provide asset
management as well as a secure
platform with high encryption. Apple
designs its security, as considered by
industry, as extremely stable as well
as secure for data entry and
retrieval.
Transforming traditional labor
intensive documentation processes
and digitising them, with a clever
use of Database HMI, would provide
a GUI interface to field personnel.
Approved devices could also enable
newer technologies for operational
optimization ~ with applications
driven to remote locations within
the cloud for data aggregation.
Real-time collaboration is a
requirement utilizing face to face
communications for knowledge
transfer. With ‘face time’ via devices
such as the iPad, telepresence for
team collaboration can save time
and money. With this type of
capability, and improved remote
monitoring, field personnel can get
issues resolved sooner by real-time
diagnosis in the field.
Earlier this year DOFERO
Consultancy launched Viz-iSERIES
solutions and announced the
certification of the modified iPad 2,
Class 1 Div 2 device. By adding
ruggedized and modified iPads with
Class 1, Div 2 rated for IP68 into the
mix, oil and gas companies can
address the challenges of
knowledge transfer and quickly
reduce non-productive time along
with travel costs substantially.
iPads on Rigs
Providing remote reporting tools
and access of operational and
maintenance manuals for
troubleshooting is another key area.
With standardized corporate tools
and a specially adapted iPad, data
aggregation to the cloud/server is
now available. This also includes
access to corporate emails and
standard web browsing tools.
With these capabilities field
personnel can visualize their lifecycle
documentation. In addition, there
are means for the annotation of
documents and, when necessary, to
communicate with visual aids.
Enabling tools such as Class 1, Div 2
modified iPad’s can help people
wider embrace their roles and
refresh technology: process
simulations such as: computer-based
renditions of the new technology
enabling “what if” scenarios;
“learning through building” where
operators can contribute to
prototypes of a system and help
design how it will be used; and most
importantly, training and HSE
simulation (such as bringing people
together in computer-driven role to
learn how to use new operating
methods correctly and safely before
going out in the field whether on or
offshore).
While these new ruggedized devices
are not a cure-all they can be an
avenue to innovation in helping
companies conduct remote training,
knowledge transfer and maintaining
a safer environment by keeping their
personnel away from dangerous
areas ~ by the remote access of
data.
FPSO: Floating Production Storage and
Offloading
GUI: Graphical User Interface
HSE: Health and Safety
OEM: Original Equipment Manufacturer
Feature
©OffComm News ~ Autumn 2012 www.OffCommNews.com 29
©OffComm News ~ Autumn 2012 www.OffCommNews.com 30
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