Monitoring Offshore Oil and Gas Processes Using Ad-Hoc Wireless Network - Research Paper Example

Monitoring and controlling the offshore oil and gas processes using ad-hoc wireless network Monitoring and controlling the offshore oil and gas processes using ad-hoc wireless network Abstract Ad-hoc wireless network is suitably suited for offshore oil and gas processes in regard to its ability to circumvent the remote and harsh environmental challenges, in an offshore processing environment. In offshore oil and gas processes, the choice of a network is rationalized on against its installation and maintenance cost together with its reliability, efficiency and security under a multiplicity of volatile environmental scenarios. This research explores the enhanced reliability and security of ad-hoc wireless network in the networking of offshore processing plant industrial control system. The superiority of ad-hoc wireless network is attributed to their exploitation of a remote, automated and digitally implemented communication system, which circumvent the inefficiencies of an analogue and manual communication system. 1.0 Introduction Ad-hoc wireless network is specifically suited for industrial control and monitoring processes, which are characterized by a large scale deployment of a comparatively reduced data as such, its best suited for oil and gas industry for in the control and monitoring of the wide range of products and processes (Jensen et al., 2013). The efficiency of ad-hoc wireless network also comes in handy in matching an oil and performance gas industry with the growing demand of fossil fuel. Despite, the role of ad-hoc wireless in revitalizing the productivity competence and capacity of oil and gas industry, there is still room for improvement particularly in the promotion of the security authenticity of the oil and gas industry ad-hoc wireless network (Ardenas et al, 2011). This call is inspired by the concern against a productivity biased development in oil and gas industry network system, which overlooks security and reliability aspects of the network system. This research explores the advantages and disadvantages of using an ad-hoc wireless system in the monitoring and control of an oil and gas industry. It also indentifies security loopholes, which threatens the safe and reliable operation of an oil and gas industry. 2.0 Advantages of an Ad-hoc Wireless Network in the Control and Monitoring of an Oil and Gas Industry 2.1 Cost Benefits Ad-hoc wireless network are relatively cheaper than hard-wired network in the collection and analysis of data from various monitoring and control sensors. This is attributed to their exploitation of the low cost data collector monitoring method. Nevertheless, the exorbitant operating cost for ad-hoc wireless network leverage the cost benefits from a low cost monitoring method. This disadvantage is attributed to the labour intensive manning of an ad-hoc wireless network system, which are comparable with a surveillance system. However, this cost implication is overshadowed by the superior efficiency of an ad-hoc wireless system in the detection of partial failure in oil and gas industry system. Maintenance cost of an ad-hoc wireless network is also prohibitive, but its countered by the use of the cost effective hard-wired surveillance network system at the data collector area as a cost reduction strategy. Nevertheless, despite its prohibitive cost, a wireless surveillance system is still preferred in networking the data collector section of an oil and gas industry in regard to its higher efficiency in the analyzes and monitoring of the section compared to hardwired surveillance system. 2.1 Changes in an Oil and Gas Industry Operation Ad-hoc wireless network have the capacity to change the procedural sequence of an oil and gas industry value chain operations. This includes stoppage of certain value chain operations for an optimization of production. Stoppage of certain value chain operations appreciates the limitation of an ad-hoc wireless network to monitor the entire oil and gas industry facility during a peak season. 2.2 Lower Installation and Maintenance Cost in Ad-hoc Wireless networked Oil and Gas Industry This is made possible by specialty design of an oil and gas industry plant. Specialized features of an ad-hoc wireless network include a plug-and-play sensor, minimum system disruption features together with an intelligence assisted start-up and maintenance software and hardware 3.0 Reliability Reliability of an ad-hoc wireless network is enhanced by the proximity of the system sensors to transceivers, which are also implemented in an overlapping design I order tolerate errors. The condition in the ad-hoc network system is also automated to respond to adjustments in the industrial system. Ad-hoc wireless network are also manned by a battery with a long life. To cope with the permanence of the control and monitoring sensors. 4.0 Security DSC are not preoccupied with verification of the accuracy or accuracy of data in regard to the pronounced interconnectivity between the software and the control hardware as well as amongst the control hardware. Nevertheless, the employment of customized information technology hardware in the implementation of control hardware equipments presents a significant security challenges to offshore oil and gas processing systems. In case of oil and gas industry, reliability of an ad-hoc wireless system is enhanced by a mesh network topology comprising of a two way communication mote. A two away, mote enhances the redundant resilience in a mesh topology designed network, thereby enhancing reliability in the case of a network link breakage or the offline switching of a network mote. Interference of an oil and gas industry radio frequency is checked through a Frequency Hoping Spread Spectrum (FHSS), which ensures a steady availability of alternate paths in case of an interference or blockage of a wireless network signal. FHSS design corresponds with the pronounced irregularity of RF in oil and gas industry. Ad-hoc wireless network are automated to reconfigure themselves in to correspond with structural changes in the network equipment layout or in the oil and gas industry plant design. The hardware and software components of wireless network systems are also interoperable with other industrial hardware and software components. 5.0 Challenges 5.1 Obsolescence Development in computer hardware and operation system threatens may render a SCADA software obsolete, thereby compromising its ability to communicate with the control hardware on either sides of the SCADA software interface. 5.2 Security A typical ad-hoc wireless network comprises of a Data Relay Node (DRN) and a Data Discharge Node (DDN). Accelerated exploitation of customized information technology hardware presents pose security threats to offshore oil and gas processing plant information and network system. References Cárdenas, A., Amin, S., Lin, Z., Huang, Y., Huang, C., & Sastry, S. (2011). Attacks against process control systems: risk assessment, detection, and response. ASIACCS, 11(2011), 355-366. Inkpen, A. C., & Moffett, M. H. (2011). The global oil & gas industry management, strategy & finance. Tulsa, Okla.: PennWell. Jensen, M., Harju, J., Steadman, E., Gorecki, C., Botnen, L., Heebink, L., et al. (2013). Methodology for Phased Development of a Hypothetical Pipeline Network for CO2 Transport during Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage. Energy & Environmental Research Center (EERC), 27(8), 4175-4182. Kelland, M. A. (2009). Production chemicals for the oil and gas industry. Boca Raton: CRC Press. Wagnera, S., Arneza, P., & Mizgiera, K. (2014). Disruptions in tightly coupled supply chain networks: the case of the US offshore oil industry. Production Planning & Control: The Management of Operations, 25(6), 494-508. Read More