Fieldbus & Industrial Networking


IoT-based well surveillance solution

January 2018 Fieldbus & Industrial Networking

Siemens has announced a scalable, end-to-end IoT solution, designed to help oil and gas companies optimise production and reduce costs through connected systems, automation, and analytics at the edge. This innovative solution offers companies across the oil and gas industry a cost-efficient solution to link distributed assets into an integrated network with minimal effort, while simultaneously providing a high level of automation.

Declining revenues demand new approaches

In a sector beleaguered by falling prices, Siemens IoT Well Surveillance will allow energy companies to acquire the cost benefits of digitisation. Oil and gas prices have dropped by 50 percent since 2014 and companies are looking to technology for the business transformation that will increase efficiency and optimise operations. Oilfield facilities and assets are typically a significant distance apart and often only partially integrated into automation systems. This makes data capture for central storage and analysis difficult and limits operational visibility. Siemens IoT Well Surveillance lets companies connect and integrate data from previously unconnected assets in a cost-efficient manner, enabling comprehensive condition monitoring, predictive maintenance and reduced facility downtime.

Smart data, condition monitoring and analytics at the edge

Siemens IoT Well Surveillance addresses field operation and oilfield artificial lift control. The solution uses existing sensors and Siemens Simocode motor management system as key inputs for edge data analytics. The edge computing device, an Intel-powered Siemens Nanobox, performs advanced analytics and soft sensing on this data, calculating pump conditions from it, triggering alerts and optimising production. Performing these calculations at the pump enables independent operation on the well. For further processing and field analytics the information is sent to a central system such as scada or an IoT platform. Dynagraph and alert functions with video integration are available for well site personnel via a fully interactive web portal.

Seamless connection between production facility and applications

Overall benefits of Siemens IoT Well Surveillance include increased asset awareness, operational efficiency, and increased revenue from production optimisation. “Siemens IoT Well Surveillance optimises oil production and works with the utmost energy efficiency,” says Uwe Tröger, Siemens global head of oil and gas onshore and senior executive VP of the Process Industries and Drives (PD) and the Digital Factory (DF) divisions in the Middle East. “This enables costs to be driven down in an industry undertaking enormous efforts to ensure continued profitability in the face of low oil prices. By using digitalisation and innovative technologies already successful in other industries, it is also possible to improve both economy and reliability.”

Intel’s technology collaboration

Intel collaborated with Siemens in the development of Siemens IoT Well Surveillance. Both Intel technologies and hardware are featured in the solution, including an Intel Atom processor-powered Siemens Nanobox gateway and an Intel-based wireless access point. The Intel Core i5 processor-powered ruggedised tablet is used for onsite visualisation of up to six months of data and for data capture at the well. Intel also collaborated on the edge software. “Siemens’ innovative IoT solution for artificial lift monitoring, analytics and control, based on scalable Intel IoT technology, demonstrates the value of edge analytics and soft sensing for well optimisation and control, while appreciably lowering the total cost of ownership,” says Christine Boles, general manager of the Industrial & Energy Solutions division in Intel’s Internet of Things group. “Together, Intel and Siemens are helping transform the world of oil field automation and enabling companies to succeed in a challenging market.”

OMV pilot deployment

OMV, a Vienna-based integrated oil and gas company, has been piloting the Siemens IoT Well Surveillance solution at an OMV oilfield since April 2017. An operator of several thousand beam pump stripper wells, OMV is highly encouraged by the early pilot results which have enabled production optimisation, early production loss identification and deferment, maintenance optimisation and field personnel relief. “The Siemens solution enables complete asset awareness at reasonable cost for wells with low production, such as stripper wells,” says OMV Saša Blažekovi, team leader, production support.

For more information contact Jennifer Naidoo, Siemens Digital Factory and Process Industries and Drives, +27 (0)11 652 2795, [email protected], www.siemens.co.za



Credit(s)



Share this article:
Share via emailShare via LinkedInPrint this page

Further reading:

Introduction to Part 2 loop signatures and process transfer functions
Fieldbus & Industrial Networking
The previous series of loop signature articles dealt with the basics of control loop optimisation, and concentrated on troubleshooting and ‘SWAG’ tuning of simple processes. In this new series, consideration will be given to dealing practically with more difficult issues like interactive processes, and with processes with much more complex dynamics.

Read more...
Siemens sets new standards in drive technology
Fieldbus & Industrial Networking
Siemens is setting new standards in industrial drive technology with the launch of its new high-performance drive system, Sinamics S220. This offers a seamless and innovative drive system with comprehensive simulation and analysis capabilities and advanced connectivity features that enable full integration into digital work processes.

Read more...
PC-based control in the plastics industry
Beckhoff Automation Fieldbus & Industrial Networking
Nissei Plastic, an injection moulding machine manufacturer based in Japan is implementing a worldwide tend towards open automation systems from experienced specialists using PC and EtherCAT-based control technology from Beckhoff.

Read more...
Loop Signature 31: Non-linearity in control loops (Part 2)
Michael Brown Control Engineering Fieldbus & Industrial Networking
This article is a continuation of Loop Signature 30 published in the last issue in this series, exploring reasons for non-linearities which may be encountered in feedback control loops

Read more...
PC-based control optimises robotic parts handling on plastics machinery
Beckhoff Automation Editor's Choice Fieldbus & Industrial Networking
NEO is a cartesian robot developed by INAUTOM Robótica in Portugal for parts removal on plastics machinery. Its aim is to increase system productivity. NAUTOM Robótica has entered into a strategic partnership with Bresimar Automação to increase the working speed of the cartesian robots using advanced control and motion solutions from Beckhoff. The result is a comprehensive, future-proof automation solution for its entire family of cartesian robots.

Read more...
Siemens and Ducati extend partnership to advance innovation in MotoGP
Siemens South Africa News
Siemens Digital Industries Software has renewed its technical partnership agreement with Ducati, and detailed how the Siemens Xcelerator platform has been instrumental in helping the company to create increasingly powerful, safe and sustainable motorcycles.

Read more...
PC-based control for flat wire motors for electric vehicles
Beckhoff Automation Fieldbus & Industrial Networking
Special machine manufacturer, ruhlamat Huarui Automation Technologies unveiled the second generation of its mass production line for flexible stators with bar winding. This enables extremely short production cycle and line changeover times, supported by PC- and EtherCAT-based control technology from Beckhoff.

Read more...
Smart assistant supports troubleshooting and analyser maintenance
Siemens South Africa IT in Manufacturing
The Siemens Industrial Copilot for process analyser technology is a smart, offline assistant that supports technicians in troubleshooting and maintaining analysers.

Read more...
Case History 200: The final case history – desuperheater control problem.
Michael Brown Control Engineering Editor's Choice Fieldbus & Industrial Networking
For this final article I have chosen to relate a problem that existed in a desuperheater temperature control on a boiler in a petrochemical refinery.

Read more...
PC-based control technology in additive manufacturing
Beckhoff Automation Editor's Choice Fieldbus & Industrial Networking
As an open control platform, PC-based control supports different engineering approaches, including low-code programming. The machine builder, Additive Industries uses this to create the code for the TwinCAT runtime of its 3D printers.

Read more...









While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained herein, the publisher and its agents cannot be held responsible for any errors contained, or any loss incurred as a result. Articles published do not necessarily reflect the views of the publishers. The editor reserves the right to alter or cut copy. Articles submitted are deemed to have been cleared for publication. Advertisements and company contact details are published as provided by the advertiser. Technews Publishing (Pty) Ltd cannot be held responsible for the accuracy or veracity of supplied material.




© Technews Publishing (Pty) Ltd | All Rights Reserved