Five Benefits of Remote Monitoring in the Oil and Gas Industry
As the oil and gas industry evolves, operators are utilizing remote monitoring technologies to increase the safety, sustainability, and efficiency of their operations.
In today’s digital age, remote monitoring (typically powered by SCADA technology) has become increasingly necessary for oil and gas companies. This technology has numerous benefits, from reducing downtime and costs to improving regulatory compliance and environmental, social, and governance (ESG.) In this article, we’ll take an in-depth look at the advantages of remote monitoring for all oil and gas companies - from upstream to downstream and everything in between- and how this technology specifically is transforming the way companies operate.
1. Increased Safety
Your employees and their safety should be the most important part of your business. Remote monitoring capabilities can help improve the safety for field operators, allowing them to check on equipment or processes from a safe distance.
Not only can this alert users to potentially hazardous conditions while they’re on-site, it can keep them off-site in the first place. Many oilfield operations are in remote locations, leading to a lot of time spent on the road for field workers. Remote monitoring access can eliminate unnecessary trips to and from location. This improves both the safety for workers who would otherwise have to hit the road to check on operations and the reportable ESG metrics for the companies who employ those workers.
2. Lowered Costs
That lack of unnecessary trips to and from a location mentioned earlier will save companies money. Connecting sensors, meters, and other monitoring devices to a software platform available remotely reduces the need for manual inspections and maintenance visits. In addition to the potential minimized labor costs, this reduces the wear and tear on company vehicles.
Remote monitoring capabilities can also help operators proactively address a problem before it occurs. Operators can see tank levels, pipeline flow meters, and so much more all from a phone or computer. This allows them to quickly react to unusual situations, reducing downtime and avoiding costly accidents.
Overall, remote monitoring can help oil and gas companies improve cost savings with the increased efficiency they’ll see in their operations. Analyzing real-time data, usage, and other key performance indicators can help operators identify areas of improvement.
A lot of what SitePro has done is limit the exposure to risk. That level of remote monitoring ...I could have a guy on the other side of the county look at his phone and decide if he needs to visit the site."
3. Data Collection
Remote monitoring enables oil and gas companies to analyze data in real-time, allowing users to make quicker, more accurate decisions. Sensors and other remote technologies allow companies to gather a wide range of data points related to operations, including flow rates, temperatures, ticketing activities, fluid volumes, and so much more.
Visualization of this data can help users quickly assess potential issues or inefficiencies. Spot trends that might otherwise go unnoticed for longer periods of time, minimizing downtime and maximizing your operation’s productivity.
This can be especially prevalent for those in the midstream sector, whose operations can span hundreds of miles across the country. Now your data for your entire pipeline is available right at your fingertips.
Data collection is crucial for oil and gas companies. Remote access to historical and real-time data allows users to make better-informed decisions, improve operational efficiency, and ultimately increase profitability.
4. Peace of Mind
Remote monitoring gives users peace of mind knowing they can keep an eye on their site at any time, from anywhere.
Before this technology was available to oil and gas companies, operators would need to rely on periodic visits to the site to check on equipment and ensure everything was functioning properly. As we discussed earlier, the implementation of remote monitoring saves users time and money by avoiding unnecessary site visits. But it also eases any worries users might have while they’re away from the site. Simply check on your operations from your phone or desktop.
Remote monitoring can be a significant benefit to the overall peace of mind of both operators and the company as a whole. Manage risk, ensure safety, and maintain operations.
5. Improved ESG
The aforementioned benefits can all lead to an improved ESG outlook for companies. Remote monitoring can improve their environmental and social impact by identifying and mitigating potential sources of pollution and energy usage. That visibility can also help users respond more quickly to prevent accidents that could lead to potential safety hazards.
The ability to collect data historically and in real-time can help hold businesses accountable to regulations and improve their governance.
Improve your operations with remote monitoring
When oil and gas facilities are operating without personnel on site, the ability to remotely monitor operations (even if they’re automated) is vital to keep facilities incident-free, prevent downtime, and increase safety and cost-effectiveness.
SitePro’s unique remote monitoring and control system can help you run your operations more efficiently, with the safety of your employees and business at the forefront. Check on your operations over your cup of coffee in the morning and rest assured everything is operating smoothly. And if it’s not? Our remote control capabilities partner perfectly with that visibility so you can make changes ASAP.
Our built-in, real-time data and analytics can help you make quicker, more informed decisions. Use the collection of historical data to view trends over time and make regulatory reporting a breeze.
In addition to a remote view of your operations from our software side, we’ve created a security surveillance system that’s synced with our technology so you can have a physical view of your operations as well.
Contact us today to learn more about how our all-in-one platform can help your oil and gas operations maximize profitability, safety, and efficiency.
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