Introduction

The data that is most valuable to energy companies includes gas flows and temperatures when gas is being dispatched from the fields. Once the oil company has extracted this data, it will usually transmit the data to the control centre via a cellular communications link where the operator can then perform data analysis. However, every time the servers in the control centre send a request to the field sites for new data it will cost the oil company money. One way to avoid the cost of transmitting so much data is to store data at the local site when an event is triggered. Another pain point for the company is that the cabinets they use cannot accommodate a cellular router, a data logger, and a remote I/O due to space constraints. Therefore, a smart data acquisition solution that can provide multiple functions and fit in the limited space will have significant advantages over other solutions.

System Requirements

• GPRS cellular connection
• VPN function
• Event-driven data collection and local storage capability
• Remember the last counter value in the event of power loss
• Alert management
• Class 1 Division 2 ATEX and IECEx certifications, as well as wide operating temperature capability

Moxa Solution

Deploying cellular communications between the gas fields and the control centre will reduce the upfront infrastructure cost and also increase efficiency. Moxa’s ioLogik 2542-GPRS smart remote I/O is a 4-in-1 data acquisition solution including a data acquisition device, Modbus gateway, an unmanaged switch, and a data logger. Moxa’s ioLogik 2500 has a cellular communication module and VPN function that can connect meters and sensors at field sites, as well as transmit data via a cellular connection. Therefore, the company doesn’t need to install cellular routers or switches in the small cabinet and the devices can be powered via solar panels, further reducing the total cost of ownership.

The smart remote I/O and the MX-AOPC UA server work together to intelligently manage the data logs by scheduling active messages to be automatically pushed from the ioLogik 2542-GPRS to the SCADA systems at the control centre. This smart data acquisition takes places when the I/O state changes or pre-configured events occur, allowing information to be accurately and efficiently pushed to the SCADA system as it becomes available without having to request additional data from the control centre.

To ensure the integrity of critical data, the ioLogik 2542-GPRS has two functions to prevent data loss. The first is that a smart remote I/O allows the company to save I/O tags and serial tags locally in the micro SD card at certain intervals to avoid data loss if the GPRS connection fails. If the connection does fail, the company can retrieve data from the FTP to avoid data loss due to the disrupted connection. In addition, the smart remote I/O can also record the counter value of gas wells even when the power is disconnected. When the power resumes, it can continue counting values based on the last recorded value.

With Click&Go Plus control logic, the ioLogik 2542-GPRS allows the company to easily set up alerts, the data logger, and acquisition mechanisms. Even when deploying hundreds of smart remote I/Os at field sites, the company can still complete the project effortlessly.

Why Moxa

• 4-in-1 data acquisition solution saves cabinet space and reduces the total cost
• The smart data acquisition mechanism reduces data traffic and cellular data fees
• Requires minimum installation, configuration, and maintenance compared to deploying multiple devices at the same time