Making the connection between oil & gas assets

Digitally linking oil & gas assets has long been an issue for those who manage them. Tech innovator Kevin Quillien explains to Louise Davis how a robust communications network can get these sites better connected.

According to Kevin Quillien, the Co-Founder and CTO of the UK-headquartered communications company, Krucial, one of the biggest challenges facing oil & gas operators today is managing a vast network of ageing producing assets distributed globally. “These assets – such as wellheads and transport networks, – are often located in remote, hard-to-access areas, which complicates efforts to modernise operations,” Quillien explains. “Digitising and digitally transforming this extensive installed base represents a tremendous opportunity to enhance efficiency, safety, and sustainability across the sector.”

Quillien formed Krucial partly to enable operators to take advantage of that opportunity: the company’s drop-in infrastructure enables the digitisation of assets anywhere on Earth, even in locations with no power or communications, such as offshore platforms or remote desert sites. Quillien notes: “By leveraging wireless ATEX-certified devices, our technology is a low-risk, cost-effective option for large-scale retrofitting. It avoids the complexity of rewiring, bypassing on-site equipment, or obtaining recertification and approvals.”

HYBRID VEHICLE

Krucial’s hybrid communications platform, Krucial Connect, ensures secure and reliable data transmission under any conditions. “This provides operators with confidence in their ability to implement advanced solutions, such as remote monitoring systems and digital twins,” details Quillien. “These tools facilitate continuous insights and predictive maintenance, driving better decision-making and extending the lifecycle of critical assets.”

The solution is simple to deploy and can be remotely configured and managed, eliminating the need for regular on-site visits: “This makes it an ideal choice for operators looking to modernise their ageing assets efficiently and effectively,” states Quillien. Ultimately, the tech innovator believes that Krucial can make a massive difference for the better: “It empowers oil and gas operators to overcome the challenges of ageing infrastructure, unlocking the full potential of Industry 4.0 to modernise their operations.”

GOOD VIBRATIONS

When asked what type of applications the platform can be used for, Quillien cites vibration monitoring at an above ground installation (AGI) as a prime use case. “Without monitoring, changes in vibration profiles can lead to catastrophic failures, endangering personnel, the environment, and operational uptime. By deploying ATEX-certified wireless sensors supported by Krucial Connect, operators can automate vibration monitoring, receive early warnings of potential issues, and take proactive measures. This reduces environmental and safety risks while improving operational efficiency.”

Krucial is not the only solution in this market, but Quillien certainly believes it has the edge over other offerings. On this, he comments: “Existing automated monitoring solutions are often constrained by vendor lock-in, focusing on a limited set of parameters dictated by the specific technology, sensors, and software of the provider. Krucial recognises that comprehensive monitoring of critical assets such as pipelines or AGIs needs to span multiple domains (such as vibration monitoring and leak detection) and bring together a wide variety of technologies from across different vendors to optimally meet the needs of different sites and customers.

“Built on a secure open architecture, Krucial Connect is compatible with a wide range of devices on the ground and transfers data seamlessly and securely to any data analytics platform, digital twin or AI on the cloud. Once spec’d to meet the needs of a client, the solution is easy to set-up and can be deployed with no specialist skills required. Deployed in mere hours no matter the site location, clients gain access to critical data from a wide range of devices monitoring parameters ranging from leak detection, pipe erosion and vibration monitoring,” he details.

INDUSTRY FOCUS

Quillien reveals that Krucial is currently engaged in several projects across the oil & gas industry, with a focus on asset retrofit and preventative maintenance, “as those are the use cases in which Krucial stands out from other solutions”. He notes: “The platform serves as a versatile tool for digital solution integrators – enabling them to deploy without having to make as many compromises as possible for their customers, the end users. Customers are getting increasingly frustrated by the lack of consistency in digital solutions and are demanding ‘single panes of glass’ for their operations – this means integrators need to find ways of having all the technologies they need deployed, even from different vendors and manufacturers, all work together in a comprehensive and consistent manner. Krucial Connect is one such solution, integrating elegantly across devices and business systems to enable resilient, digitisation at scale.”

FORWARD THINKING

The energy sector has a solid reputation for embracing modern solutions and Quillien has observed companies being more eager to digitise their operations than in some other markets he works in.

“The oil & gas industry certainly seems to be progressing at a quicker pace than others in the engineering sector and operators are more open to adoption of cutting-edge technologies such as digital twins. Stringent environmental regulations and pressure to work more sustainably has opened the door for advanced monitoring technologies to support compliance, preventative maintenance strategies to avoid disastrous issues such as leakages in pipelines all in which help operators work more efficiently and sustainably.” But, he notes, “Although there is a growing appetite for modernisation, particularly driven by sustainability goals and stringent environmental regulations, operators often prefer solutions with a proven track record in the field. This cautious approach can create hurdles for introducing newer capabilities and technologies.”

Further complicating the situation is that legacy systems, often designed decades ago, lack the digital infrastructure and compatibility required for integration with Industry 4.0 solutions such as IoT or AI. “Consequently, no matter the desire to integrate modern technology, its adoption is often blocked by operators not wanting the costly or time-consuming job of replacing entire systems of ageing infrastructure,” confirms Quillien. “This is where Krucial Connect shines: negating the need to replace entire legacy systems by offering a drop-in remote monitoring solution enabling wireless data transmission via a robust communications infrastructure, allowing operators to reap the benefits of automated monitoring and digital twinning,” he adds.

HUGE POTENTIAL

And Quillien is optimistic that these benefits will be achieved on a larger scale in the very near future. “While the sector’s digital-first mindset is accelerating adoption, there remains
a substantial opportunity to modernise processes that still rely heavily on manual intervention. By addressing the challenges of legacy infrastructure and delivering proven, low-risk solutions, Krucial is well-positioned to help operators unlock the full potential of Industry 4.0 innovations,” he concludes.

REMOTE WORKING

“Like many other sectors, the oil & gas industry has a real need for continuous monitoring of critical assets spread across vast territories,” notes Quillien. “Deploying automated remote monitoring solutions makes this essential monitoring more cost effective and provides more, better quality data on which to base decision making, improve safety, and meet regulatory and reporting requirements.”

Krucial Connect provides a private drop-in network to digitise any location on Earth. “This means operators can deploy the system on a site and benefit from continuous and autonomous data transfer from hundreds of sensing devices across a 15km range, from any location,” details Quillien.

The solution is off-grid capable with multiple in-built power options including renewable energy sources and sends data via multi-backhauls across cellular or satellite, depending on what is available. Quillien adds: “The solution is robust to extreme environments and ensures data continues to flow through storms or power outages.”