|
|
Case Study: Remote satellite connectivity secures communications network
"The goal was to provide advanced voice and data communications at a reduced cost. The IPerformer solution allowed us to meet these goals."
Mark Spicer
IT Manager
Newfield Exploration
|
|
Challenge
Newfield's objective was to optimize their production process by deploying improved communications systems and services. Newfield worked to transform 42 manned platforms in the Gulf of Mexico from isolated islands of operation to fully integrated offices, with access to the corporate network, Internet, email, fax, and voice.
Solution
The IPerformer* Ku-band solution, with its small 1.2-m antennas and one-box netmodem, provided an ideal hardware solution. In connecting all remote sites with secure, reliable VSAT communications, Newfield was better able to collaborate in real time with their teams offshore.
Results
IPerformer provided a costeffective remote access solution, which will pay for itself in just over 2 years. The platforms are now wholly integrated into Newfield’s corporate network and behave as any other floor in the Houston office.
Remote connectivity offshore
Newfield Exploration Company is an independent crude oil and natural gas exploration and production company headquartered in Houston, Texas. Newfield’s original focus was a 700-block area offshore Louisiana and with time this expanded to encompass the shelf from offshore Mississippi to Texas. At year-end 2004, Newfield owned an interest in more than 220 production platforms on the traditional shelf (water depths of less than 1,000 ft) and daily gross production was approximately 500 ft3/d.
Newfield moved into deepwater in the Gulf of Mexico and first production was achieved in 2004. This success in deepwater has prompted the company to consider moving toward larger targets and into more remote regions where infrastructure may not be readily available. Newfield now owns an interest in 76 deepwater lease blocks in the Gulf of Mexico.
Newfield’s primary objective was to optimize their production process by deploying improved communications systems and services. Newfield worked to transform their 42 manned platforms in the Gulf of Mexico from isolated islands of operation to fully integrated offices, with access to the corporate network, Internet, email, fax, and voice.
In addition, Newfield wanted to rationalize the number of different service providers used in the Gulf of Mexico, exploit the communication improvements offered by the latest developments in technology, and adopt a solution that was scalable, while incurring no additional cost. By employing state-of-the-art Internet protocol (IP) technologies, Schlumberger was able to meet Newfield’s exacting requirements in full.
Compact, secure IPerformer communications network links rigs
The IPerformer Ku-band solution, with its small 1.2-m antennas and one-box netmodem, provided an ideal hardware solution since realestate was at a premium on board. The equipment proved to be unobtrusive and required no special power or buildouts, which permitted a rapid and nondisruptive deployment on all installations.
Since the IPerformer network is IP, all the traffic including voice (VoIP) is prioritized and encrypted. One primary concern was security. The Triple DES (3DES) encryption allows users to protect their data as a matter of routine without introducing unacceptable overheads. 3DES was used across the network and provided the necessary security for all traffic.
A key feature of the IPerformer solution is bandwidth that can be allocated on an “as needed” basis. The flexibility of the IPerformer technology allows individual Newfield sites to burst to the total aggregate bandwidth, 1.5 Mbps, if other sites are not using their share. When the network is operating at capacity each site has a committed information rate (CIR), guaranteeing a minimum level of throughput at all times.
In order to counteract the impact of rain-fade, a common issue with Ku-band networks hubbed out of Houston, Schlumberger utilized its teleport facilities located in Sedalia, Colorado and deployed an autoadjust power feature. The autoadjust power control increases the equivalent isotropic radiated power (EIRP) of the remote terminal in the event of heavy rain, maintaining the link availability and preserving the traffic transfer.
Each of the platforms now operates Cisco IP phones on board allowing for VoIP; fax facilities using Cisco analogue-to-IP converters; a direct connection to the Houston private branch exchange (PBX) allowing for local calls at only $0.03 per minute; and voicemail facilities via a Cisco call manager.
The network is monitored and supported in real time, 24/7 by a Schlumberger customer support center (CSC), providing first line diagnostic and technical support, a complete global ticketing system, and a full quality-assured escalation process for persistent issues.
Cost-effective VSAT satellite communications
As a result of this deployment, the platforms are now wholly integrated into Newfield’s corporate network and behave as any other floor in the Houston office. Due to the highly scalable architecture of IPerformer technology, Newfield was recently able to instantly connect a 43rd platform to their network. In addition to easily adding new sites to the network as needed, the entire IPerformer solution can be easily replicated in other locations around the world. The flexibility of the network will allow Newfield to deploy new applications including video conferencing and SCADA between the numerous offshore installations and home office locations.
IPerformer provided a cost-effective remote access solution, which will pay for itself in just over 2 years. This exceeds the original economic goals of the project. In connecting all remote sites with secure and reliable VSAT communications, Newfield was better able to collaborate, in real time, with their teams offshore. This collaboration optimized the efficiency of both people and resources, improved productivity, and maximized return on investment.
|
|
|
