The place of communication services in the offshore oil and gas industry is evolving just as it is onshore. Employees offshore expect many of the same services on a platform supply vessel or semisubmersible drilling rig as they have onshore at home. A VCR and collection of movies has been passed by broadband Internet connections and e-mail.
Vessel and platform operations also expect more from communication services. Real-time monitoring, for example, requires having data available in a number of places, including the Web for worldwide access. Integrity management of systems benefits from timely review by experts who may not be onboard. Time saved in responding to a case of emergency also can benefit from regular monitoring.
As the floating applications increase, suppliers of communication hardware and services are looking for better ways to provide more “space” for communication. Space, in the form of satellites, is providing some of the answers.
Inmarsat will spend $1.2 billion to build a new global satellite-based network to deliver data speeds up to 50 Mbps on demand to customers starting in 2014. The system includes three new Boeing 702 HP Ka-band geostationary satellites, as well as new ground infrastructure.
That announcement came just days after Google-backed satellite operator O3b announced it would provide gigabit per second capacities to customers operating between latitude 42º north and south.
There is a “chicken and egg” trend, too. When the limits on transmissions to and from vessels go up, the volume goes up. When the volume goes up, the demand for increased limits goes up and the circle continues. The ultimate target is to have sufficient capacity for workers to complete their duties and to have the same access in off hours as they would at home.
The nature of the crew make-up changes over time, too. Today’s crew members are interested in more amenities than in days past. When one employer raises the standards, most others chose to comply, too. Statoil’s introduction of VSAT at least on its offshore service vessels is an example. Now, most companies have it.
Another boost in online demand comes from the ports and waterway commissions. These organizations recognize that Internet communication is available onboard and either increases the amount of information they demand or shorten the time available to supply information, or both.
The technology making all this possible is evolving. The SEVSAT Global from Ship Equip, for example, automatically switches from satellite to satellite as the vessel moves from one coverage area to another.
Shallow water service
CapRock recently announced a new service developed specifically for the shallow water production market. Operators with shallow-water production platforms now have access to voice and data communications that include CapRock’s VSAT services and include terminal selection, satellite bandwidth, support including 24/7 NOC access, and a set of optional products and features. This production platform service is available now for the Gulf of Mexico. The expansion of the services internationally is in development.
Marlink has announced the extension of its Ku-band VSAT services to include Hong Kong, the Middle East, and the Indian Ocean. The coverage expansion follows a recent VNO (Virtual Network Operator) agreement with Asia Broadcast Satellite (ABS) Hong Kong for the use of the wide Southern Ku-band beam on the ABS-1 satellite at 75°E. Marlink says the ABS-1 Southern Beam offers the widest Ku-band coverage in the Asia/Pacific region, extending from Mongolia to south of Thailand and across Eastern Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and Japan. Use of the ABS-1 satellite will enable Marlink to provide greater Ku-band coverage to its WaveCall and @SEAdirect customers in Hong Kong, the Middle East, and the Indian Ocean.
Marlink’s WaveCall and @SEAdirect Ku-band VSAT services provide always-on unlimited use satellite communications including Internet, email, and voice services, at a fixed monthly price.
Intellian has opened a state-of-the-art facility for research and development, manufacturing, shipping, and training. The facility, just south of Seoul, South Korea, the Intellian Innovation Center is a new 71,000-sq ft (6,596-sq m), four-story building designed to increase production and technology development opportunities.
With increased capacity and enhanced logistics for satellite antenna production, the Intellian Innovation Center can accommodate large manufacturing quantities of up to 1,000 antenna units per month and more efficient production of 1-m and larger antennas including the Intellian w-Series and VSAT models.
The Intellian Innovation Center will house the company’s quality control, engineering, product development, RF design, mechanical design engineering, production, purchasing, and administration. The facility includes a field testing lab equipped with window access to the sky for antenna development and testing inside the building; four labs with new vibration machines for shock and aging tests, along with equipment that tests technology against temperature, humidity, salt, mist, and other environment elements.
Intellian also says it has completed the characterization of Eutelsat on its v60 maritime satellite VSAT antenna system.
The Intellian v60 is a 60-cm (23.6-in.) Ku-band, three-axis stabilized VSAT antenna system capable of receiving SCPC, MCPC, TDMA, or Spread Spectrum transmissions. The outcome of the Eutelsat RF characterization and validation testing reported performance of 38.1 dBi of Tx gain, 35.8 dBi of Rx gain and a maximum allowed EIRP of 31.5 dBW.
Designed for ocean vessels in the recreational, commercial or oil and gas markets, as well as military vessels, the v60 offers “always on” broadband communications in the roughest weather and sea conditions.
The v60 is the smallest VSAT v-Series antenna available from Intellian and offers a wide -10º to +100º elevation range. The v-Series also includes two additional models, the 1.05-m (41.0-in) v110 and the 1.25-m (48.8-in) v130.
The SAILOR 900 VSAT, a new Ku-band VSAT antenna, is scheduled for launch by Thrane & Thrane at the SMM 2010 exhibition this September.
SAILOR 900 VSAT is designed and built to the exact same standards as Thrane & Thrane’s SAILOR terminals for Inmarsat services. SAILOR 900 VSAT is designed for easy installation. It is a powerful, quick, and easy-to-deploy four-axis stabilized Ku-band VSAT antenna featuring a low-profile and high performance RF design. It can be integrated with all leading VSAT modem units and the sophisticated Antenna Control Unit (ACU) features multiple LAN and diagnostics ports, and Built-in Test Equipment (BITE).
Inmarsat has introduced its first hand-held satellite phone, the ISatphone Pro. Inmarsat says it is splash proof, dust proof, shock resistant, and able to withstand temperatures from -20 ºC up to plus 55 ºC. It is, however, aimed solely at the “remote environment market” such as gas and oil engineering or the construction trade, and has eight hours talk and 100 hours stand by time.
It has Bluetooth connectivity, a high visibility color display, text, and email capability, and a keypad designed to be used while wearing gloves.
Subsea communications connection
Ocean Specialists Inc. has introduced its patented Portable Dynamic Riser (PDR) technology to the deepwater oil and gas industry. The PDR is a portable, skid-mounted cable package that allows mobile offshore drilling units and other mobile assets to connect to an in-field fiber optic network without the need to install a custom-designed dynamic riser.
The PDR consists of a topside winch and launch frame that lowers a spooled subsea flying lead via a lightweight, reinforced fiber umbilical. The flying lead, consisting of a lightweight fiber tether and fiber optic wet-mateable connector, is flown into place using a work-class ROV and connected to a nearby drill center or umbilical termination assembly with an available fiber connection. At the end of the drilling program or service requirement, the flying lead is disconnected, and all subsea components are spooled back on board the skid and made ready for the next deployment.
Offshore Articles Archives
View Oil and Gas Articles on PennEnergy.com
