PRODUCTION • PROCESSING • HANDLING
AT&T’s wearable pendant helps reduce the risk to field workers, especially those in remote locations, since the client is able to respond to safety issues more quickly
W
ith the industry’s current economic environment, oil & gas leaders are forging innovative paths with technology to
better their businesses. After a market downturn, businesses reduced capital expenditures and projects and suppliers were pressed for better pricing. Tough these measures were necessary, oil & gas executives recognise the need for new strategies to ensure long-term profitability. Tis is where the Internet of Tings (IoT) comes in. It can play an important role in driving these strategic goals, and oil & gas companies are embracing the technology. AT&T currently has over 29 million connected devices with 1.6 million asset management devices on its network. Te firm expects IoT monitoring of pipeline and storage tanks to have a compound annual growth rate of 21% year over year. In addition to the better management of production, transport, refining, processing and distribution, the real value of IoT is in the information generated.
Connected devices funnel a constant
flow of data into dedicated analytic tools. Oil & gas companies can then use that information to gain valuable insights into their businesses and take concrete steps to help improve operations. Safety factors, time management and cost controls are key considerations for the industry. IoT solutions are available to help address all of these needs.
PROTECTING EMPLOYEES For example, a large integrated energy company needed to monitor employees working alone in the field. It wanted a solution for workers to be both active and reactive – one that monitored a lack of motion as well as gave them a panic button to press for help. Terefore AT&T created a wearable pendant with 900MHz cellular and satellite radio connectivity. Tis IoT solution helps reduce the risk to field workers, especially those in remote locations, since the client is able to respond to safety issues more quickly. But there’s potential to take this a
step further. Personal sensor networks could monitor and track workers’ vital
statistics, such as heartbeat, pulse and body temperature, and activity level. Tis would give concerned parties instant awareness. Tese sensors could also let workers know if they are at risk, entering sensitive areas or even crossing into restricted safety zones. Companies could design programs
to respond immediately to incidents – or even as they are about to happen – based on predictive analytics. Emerging wearable display technology can overlay information into the field of vision to let businesses work faster, share information and warn workers of problems. By connecting such a wearable sensor network to an intelligent, cloud-based storage and processing facility, users could build rules and policies to lower risks.
MAINTAIN CONTROL: VIRTUALLY ANYTIME, ANYWHERE Managing tanks and totes is another area where AT&T can intelligently apply IoT. Tere are thousands of these in the petrochemical industry – holding everything from acid to chlorine bleach to process additives and even food-grade lubricants. Automating near real-time measurements allows for more efficient operations. It can mean large cost savings, especially in remote locations, or in a feedstock scenario.
The NetrIS is an intrinsically safe digital tank reader that wirelessly communicates accurate tank level data
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