The oil and gas industry has a history of volatility with ups and downs being inevitable. While you cannot control the volatility, you can control how you prepare for market swings by optimising operations. Leveraging the right technologies, starting with the right network infrastructure, can help you switch from traditional manual, non-integrated processes to an automated, integrated, and mobile solution—one that can give you new levels of insight and help you increase operational efficiencies. And, efficiencies built during a downtime can improve your competitive advantage in up times.

Advanced technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT), machine-to-machine (M2M) communications, and autonomy have allowed industrial organisations to achieve huge gains in productivity and safety. In addition, oil and gas fields comprise vehicles, equipment, and personnel dispersed across vast complexes and rugged terrain – all of which require constant, reliable, high-bandwidth connectivity while on the move. Achieving this high level of connectivity requires a wireless network that allows trucks, graders, drills, wellheads, pumps, laptops, and other equipment to communicate in real time. Continuous operations and safety mandate unwavering network availability with 24×7 uptime in all locations.

Given mobility and the line-of-sight issues posed by rapidly changing topography, the ideal network is one that is easily deployed, endures harsh conditions, and can reliably connect to and communicate with personnel and assets in an ever-changing landscape without constantly moving, adding, or rebuilding infrastructure. For more than a decade, Rajant Kinetic Mesh^® networks have proven their value in these dynamic environments and stringent conditions. Today, Rajant represents the standard for reliable, resilient, flexible broadband connectivity in some of the largest and most-productive industrial enterprises in the world. As an example, Rajant networks currently provide robust, fully mobile connectivity in 100-plus mines worldwide.

Typical Applications Supported by Rajant Kinetic Mesh Networks

• Process Control
• Production Automation and Control
• Precision Drilling and Excavation
• Well Monitoring
• Video Surveillance and Monitoring
• Vehicle and Equipment Health Monitoring
• Personnel and Vehicle Dispatch Routing
• Autonomous Hauling and Drilling
• Employee and Contractor Communications
• Personnel Safety – GPS-Based Locations and Status Tracking
• TRoIP – Tactical Radio over IP

Challenges to Achieving the Fully Integrated Oil and Gas Field

Operators face a daunting list of challenges when planning and implementing a communication network that will provide sitewide, mobile access to vital data, voice, and video, including…

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