As a part of the global and dynamic oil and gas industry, there is a constant need to sustain profitability using the latest technology. Thanks to innovative solutions like the cloud, mobility, and advanced analytics tools, oilfield operators can extract more value from their assets and maximize uptime.
To stay competitive in the industry, oilfield facility operators are adopting state-of-the-art solutions for a better view of real-time production data and enhance operations. This adoption also allows them to respond to issues as soon as they arise and helps identify potential issues before they become incidents.
Improvements in operations and production translates to increased efficiency. With the right oilfield equipment, people and resources working together, you can achieve your operational goals with lower costs and a better safety record. One way to do so is to adopt facility automation services to help you make logic-based decisions at your facility. The two most common systems include Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs) and Industrial PCs (IPCs).
Upstream and midstream operators are starting to make the shift towards automating their operations, and the historical solution for this type of automation has been the use of programmable logic controllers (PLCs). This industrial control system can automate specific processes, machine functions, and even entire production lines. Unlike traditional computers, PLCs are set apart through the following key features:
PLCs work by receiving information from a connected sensor or input device. After processing the data, it triggers outputs based on pre-programmed requirements. Depending on the I/O, PLCs can monitor and record data like operating temperature and machine productivity. It can also perform other functions like sound alarms during equipment malfunctions, or start and stop processes when needed.
Oilfield operators use PLCs to regulate activities and streamline production. The automated system helps regulate petroleum extraction, transportation, and distribution processes. A single person can operate an entire system and control when to start-up, monitor, and shut down operations. With these innovative systems, you can use a single control system to start or stop the pumps at your facility.
PLCs have been the go-to choice for control systems among oil and gas operators, and other industrial applications, for decades. Since the introduction of IPCs during the 1980s, however, switching from PLCs to industrial PCs became a viable alternative for those in the oil and gas industry.
The popularity of IPCs coincided with the rise of cloud-based industrial networks that provide users greater flexibility than PLCs, with less downtime when making changes or upgrades to an existing system.
While PLCs were useful for speeding up production and automating processes, they do not meet other demanding requirements like extra data storage, networking capabilities, user-friendly features, the ability to update processes remotely and more. IPC technology, on the other hand, was designed to perform tasks like communication, data storage, and number crunching and can be upgraded by pushing out new software remotely without the need to take a facility offline.
IPC technology is present in various facets of development — from smartphones to cloud computing. The oil and gas industry is no exception to these changes. With the dawn of the digital manufacturing and the proliferation of smart devices, companies are turning to IPC-based automation to achieve their business goals.
The commercialization of digital products is calling for a greater emphasis on data, information exchange, and the collaborative execution of processes. And IPC-based automation solutions are more suited to those applications.
High-performance IPCs are designed for reliable and continuous operation in the extreme environments typical to the oil and gas industry. As a cost-effective IPC-based automation alternative, those in the upstream, midstream, and downstream sectors are adopting the IPC to drive integrated operations and boost profitability.
The oil and gas industry follows mission-critical processes controlled by systems subject to extreme conditions, heavy regulatory penalties, and environmental damages. Some PLCs may be suitable for the extreme operating conditions that the industry requires but are limited due to the platform on which they operate. Since IPCs are engineered for performance, reliability, and durability, they are better suited for the job as they guarantee data protection, real-time operations, and deployment flexibility.
PC-based automation solutions have been so efficient, in fact, that it is helping the industry drive “integrated operations.” The term refers to the gathering, consolidation, and analysis of data in the entire oil and gas value chain in real time. This is truly the definition of a “digital oilfield” and not the use of one piece of technology disguised as an integrated system.
Using PLCs and IPCs may be different, but both systems have their advantages and disadvantages. Depending on your requirements, they can continue working hand-in-hand in your operations.
IPCs have a distinct edge, however, since they combine the advantages of both systems into one device. These include:
SitePro is a digital oilfield automation company that offers oil and gas automation and SCADA solutions to operations of any size. We use IPCs for our automation and data collection operations instead of antiquated PLCs. By taking this approach, our customers can continuously update their software and equipment without shutting down operations or sending technicians to the field.
Email us today for a free software demo, and let’s talk about the way we can automate your operations saving you time and money in any market condition.