Universal Master Control Station: Difference between revisions
No edit summary |
No edit summary |
||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
{{db-spam}} |
{{db-spam}} |
||
{{hangon}} |
{{hangon}} |
||
{{advert}} |
|||
== '''Introduction''' == |
== '''Introduction''' == |
||
On the top-side facilities of offshore oil and gas platforms the Master Control Station (MCS) is a dedicated system that controls and retrieves data from subsea equipment on the ocean floor. Positioned between the [[Distributed_Control_System|distributed control system (DCS)]] on the platform and the subsea equipment, the MCS is critical to maintaining safe operating conditions, optimizing production across a field and effectively managing reserves<ref>Dolphin Master Control Station, http://www.controldynamics.com/mcs_dolphin.aspx</ref><ref>Subsea Control Systems, http://www.gepower.com/businesses/ge_oilandgas/en/literature/en/downloads/subsea_control_systems.pdf</ref>. The complex automation systems enabling offshore production of oil & gas, particularly in deep water, have strong parallels to their on-shore, process plant applications. However, only recently have conventional automation practices for on-shore process plants been applied to subsea production control systems. |
On the top-side facilities of offshore oil and gas platforms the Master Control Station (MCS) is a dedicated system that controls and retrieves data from subsea equipment on the ocean floor. Positioned between the [[Distributed_Control_System|distributed control system (DCS)]] on the platform and the subsea equipment, the MCS is critical to maintaining safe operating conditions, optimizing production across a field and effectively managing reserves<ref>Dolphin Master Control Station, http://www.controldynamics.com/mcs_dolphin.aspx</ref><ref>Subsea Control Systems, http://www.gepower.com/businesses/ge_oilandgas/en/literature/en/downloads/subsea_control_systems.pdf</ref>. The complex automation systems enabling offshore production of oil & gas, particularly in deep water, have strong parallels to their on-shore, process plant applications. However, only recently have conventional automation practices for on-shore process plants been applied to subsea production control systems<ref>Production Control Systems - An Introduction, http://www.touchoilandgas.com/production-control-systems-introduction-a99-1.html</ref>. |
||
Realizing the opportunity for greater standardization in the offshore process control environment, oil and gas producers began planning a "Universal" Master Control Station (UMCS). In 2008, [http://www.controldynamics.com/ Control Dynamics International] of Houston, now a subsidiary of [http://www.englobal.com ENGlobal], was commissioned to further develop the concept commencing with a detailed design. Working together with oil and gas producers, Control Dynamics International defined a long-term vision and commercialization plan for a UMCS that could communicate to virtually any subsea equipment, inconsequential of the supplier(s). |
Realizing the opportunity for greater standardization in the offshore process control environment, oil and gas producers began planning a "Universal" Master Control Station (UMCS). In 2008, [http://www.controldynamics.com/ Control Dynamics International] of Houston, now a subsidiary of [http://www.englobal.com ENGlobal], was commissioned to further develop the concept commencing with a detailed design. Working together with oil and gas producers, Control Dynamics International defined a long-term vision and commercialization plan for a UMCS that could communicate to virtually any subsea equipment, inconsequential of the supplier(s). |
||
Revision as of 19:00, 8 July 2010
This article may meet Wikipedia's criteria for speedy deletion because in its current form it serves only to promote or publicise an entity, person, product, or idea, and would require a fundamental rewrite in order to become encyclopedic. However, the mere fact that a company, organization, or product is a page's subject does not, on its own, qualify that page for deletion under this criterion. This criterion also does not apply where substantial encyclopedic content would remain after removing the promotional material as deletion is not cleanup; in this case please remove the promotional material yourself, or add the {{advert}} tag to alert others to do so. See CSD G11.
If this article does not meet the criteria for speedy deletion, or you intend to fix it, please remove this notice, but do not remove this notice from pages that you have created yourself. If you created this page and you disagree with the given reason for deletion, you can click the button below and leave a message explaining why you believe it should not be deleted. You can also visit the talk page to check if you have received a response to your message. Note that this article may be deleted at any time if it unquestionably meets the speedy deletion criteria, or if an explanation posted to the talk page is found to be insufficient.
Note to administrators: this article has content on its talk page which should be checked before deletion. Administrators: check links, talk, history (last), and logs before deletion. Consider checking Google.This page was last edited by Jtlangill (contribs | logs) at 19:00, 8 July 2010 (UTC) (14 years ago) |
Introduction
On the top-side facilities of offshore oil and gas platforms the Master Control Station (MCS) is a dedicated system that controls and retrieves data from subsea equipment on the ocean floor. Positioned between the distributed control system (DCS) on the platform and the subsea equipment, the MCS is critical to maintaining safe operating conditions, optimizing production across a field and effectively managing reserves[1][2]. The complex automation systems enabling offshore production of oil & gas, particularly in deep water, have strong parallels to their on-shore, process plant applications. However, only recently have conventional automation practices for on-shore process plants been applied to subsea production control systems[3].
Realizing the opportunity for greater standardization in the offshore process control environment, oil and gas producers began planning a "Universal" Master Control Station (UMCS). In 2008, Control Dynamics International of Houston, now a subsidiary of ENGlobal, was commissioned to further develop the concept commencing with a detailed design. Working together with oil and gas producers, Control Dynamics International defined a long-term vision and commercialization plan for a UMCS that could communicate to virtually any subsea equipment, inconsequential of the supplier(s).
Design Considerations & Objectives
The objective of the UMCS development program was to create a global standard that used commercially available, off-the-shelf components to be configured with little or no software effort. Likewise, the graphics, control routines, and functionality would be consistently designed and implemented to provide operations a recognizable control system. A standard interface (communication protocol) would establish a common communication link for the UMCS enabling concurrent data exchange to multiple subsea vendors. Broadly, the operational and business objectives that informed and directed the design of the UMCS included:
- Scalable up to 100 Subsea Control Modules (SCM)
- Expandable in the field
- Based on commercially available, off-the-shelf hardware
- Components replaceable without shut-in
- System hardware to be designed for maximum uptime (MTBF)
- Dual redundancy to alleviate a shut-in due to multiple points of failure
- Communications with subsea equipment based on a widely accepted standard
- Open architecture for integration with 3rd party systems
A standard OPC database would also serve as the communication link to the Distributed Control System (DCS), Hydraulic Power Unit (HPU), and Electrical Power Unit (EPU).
The UMCS is a pre-engineered solution that offers savings in design and acceptance testing by requiring less time to build and interface with topside systems and components. In essence, the UMCS is a stark departure from the historic uniquely customized subsea control systems of the past. The UMCS will communicate with subsea control pods at the wellhead from multiple subsea equipment providers, without disrupting the subsea vendor’s native communication protocol. The rack-mounted PLC hardware also supports the required scalability inherent within subsea applications.
Physical Architecture & Connectivity
The UMCS interface is comprised of three main layers: HMI, logic/control and subsea communications to control pods on the ocean floor. Two complete and segregated channel networks, incorporating high availability industrial controllers, simultaneously monitor data functions to and from each other, as well as between surface and subsea equipment. In the event of a channel network failure the other processor will seamlessly operate the UMCS. This dual redundant architecture eliminates any single point of failure and provides the bump-less transfer from the failed to healthy channel network.
Consistent with the design objectives, the UMCS uses OPC for communications with each subsea gateway. The subsea gateway is comprised of the SCM communication application and OPC Client. Each subsea vendor provides their own gateway, thereby preserving their traditional proprietary design and safeguards inherent in each system. This scheme alleviates the need for modifying any subsea vendor’s communication link or SCM, but allows the design of the SCM to be evolved without affecting the UMCS. Most important, the UMCS enables multiple subsea vendors to connect to the same MCS via Ethernet, demonstrating the strong value of the standard connectivity afforded by the OPC interface technology.
The UMCS provides dual redundancy capabilities within the overall system, allowing the system to utilize any combination of components from MCS A and MCS B to successfully perform the normal operations of the MCS. For example, this would allow the system to operate even with a failure of HMI A, PLC B, OPC Server B, and Subsea Gateway A.
Software Applications—the Core of the UMCS
Software modules are also standard in the UMCS. Complementing the software applications, the UMCS is comprised of a set of core graphic screens with a variety of control pop-ups, trending screens, diagnostics, and alarm handling. Screens can be quickly configured to project-specific requirements using any off-the-shelf human-machine interface (HMI) software.
Custom programming is minimized or eliminated altogether and is replaced by HMI screen configuration, making the UMCS extensible and easier to maintain. ENGlobal also provides a full range of lifetime support options, ranging from telephone support to proactive, secure Internet-based system monitoring and software upgrades.
Tangible Value of the Universal Master Control Station
The UMCS delivers enormous savings in design costs and acceptance testing, while making best use of limited space on topside facilities. As the core of an intelligent subsea control system, the UMCS combines industry proven, fault-tolerant control hardware to create the most robust system available today. The system is also designed to accommodate multiple wells, and integrate with the major distributed control systems (DCS) and subsea equipment types. The UMCS has effectively generated an average of 80% or more in re-engineering time for the following items:
- Hardware, wiring, and fabrication
- PLC logic and database configuration
- HMI graphics and database
- Subsea communications database
- EPU / HPU interface
While reducing cost, the UMCS also reduces risk by offering a pre-engineered solution based on a standardized program block architecture and a common communication database via the Standard Interface, based on OPC. The UMCS is expected to be a disruptive technology in the subsea equipment business as communication standards were for plant automation systems in the 90s.
References
- ^ Dolphin Master Control Station, http://www.controldynamics.com/mcs_dolphin.aspx
- ^ Subsea Control Systems, http://www.gepower.com/businesses/ge_oilandgas/en/literature/en/downloads/subsea_control_systems.pdf
- ^ Production Control Systems - An Introduction, http://www.touchoilandgas.com/production-control-systems-introduction-a99-1.html