Page 1 of 5
23rd October 2008
Emerson’s Smart Wireless Solutions Improve Wellhead
Monitoring at BP Wytch Farm
Self-organising wireless network proves easy to install and highly reliable in crowded
metal wellhead environment of onshore oil field.
Emerson Process Management has successfully applied its Smart Wireless selforganising field network to monitor wellhead annular pressure at BP’s Wytch Farm
onshore oilfield. Wytch Farm is Western Europe's largest onshore oilfield, comprising
three separate oil reservoirs that lie under Poole Harbour and Poole Bay in Dorset, UK.
Emerson’s Smart Wireless transmitters enable continuous monitoring of the wellhead
pressure that indicates the condition of the well. Previously the pressure was measured
by using gauges that were manually read once or twice a day. Continuous monitoring
eliminates the need for daily visits to the wellhead and enables unusual readings to be
identified earlier and action taken to investigate and rectify faults before they develop into
serious problems.
As part of a drive to improve operations, BP wanted to increase the available information,
improve worker efficiency, and remove the need for operator rounds. “Manual reading of
pressure gauges on the wellhead was identified as one area we could improve,”
explained Chris Geen, BP Manager “but we found that wired transmitters were simply too
expensive due to the wiring infrastructure needed, so wireless is the perfect technology
for this application.”
The Smart Wireless network installed on one of the well sites at Wytch Farm includes 40
Rosemount® wireless pressure transmitters. Two transmitters are mounted on each
wellhead and a single Smart Wireless Gateway, mounted outside the process area,
connects the transmitters to the control system. Data is collated in a PI historian database
with the information used for regular maintenance and safety reports.
Page 2 of 5
Installation was quick and easy: the manifolds were isolated; the old dial gauges
removed, and the wireless transmitters screwed into the existing connectors. Despite
short access periods to the site, it took less than eight hours in total (spread over two
days) to complete including removal of all the old gauges, replacing them with the
Rosemount wireless transmitters and performing a three point manual calibration check
on every device. All devices were on-line within 30 minutes.
The wellhead area was fairly open on one side but had cable trays, dense pipe work, and
other metal obstructions on the other side, shielding some of the transmitters from the
gateway location. Despite this challenging environment, as each transmitter was powered
up, the devices found the gateway and the mesh was established. As new devices were
added, they quickly and easily joined the self-organising network. Signal strength and
consistency during the operational period has been excellent.
“Wytch Farm has been a critical pilot project for BP to see if self-organising wireless mesh
technology would be suitable for other similar projects. Following the success of this
installation, BP is planning to install Emerson Smart Wireless transmitters in similar
applications on offshore platforms,” said Geen.
With Emerson’s self-organising technology, each wireless device can act as a router for
other nearby devices, passing messages along until they reach their destination. If there
is an obstruction, transmissions are simply re-routed along the network until a clear path
to the Smart Wireless Gateway is found. As conditions change or new obstacles are
encountered in a plant, such as temporary scaffolding, new equipment, or a parked
construction trailer, these wireless networks simply reorganise and find a way to get their
signals through.
All of this happens automatically, without any involvement by the user, providing
redundant communication paths and better reliability than direct, line-of-sight
communications between individual devices and a receiver. This self-organising
technology optimises data reliability while minimising power consumption. It also reduces
the effort and infrastructure necessary to set up a successful wireless network.
Page 3 of 5
Smart Wireless products and technology are an extension of Emerson’s PlantWeb® digital
plant architecture. For more information on Smart Wireless, go to
www.EmersonProcess.eu/SmartWireless
- ENDS Images
There are two images to accompany this release. Please include the copyright reference
as stated. The low resolution images can be seen below and the high resolution images
can be opened by clicking on the link.
Caption
BP Wytch Farm is Western
Europe's largest onshore oilfield
Link to high res
image.
Download larger JPG
image (2.5 MB)
Image: ©BP p.l.c
BP Wytch Farm comprises three
separate oil reservoirs that lie
under Poole Harbour and Poole
Bay in Dorset, UK.
Image: ©BP p.l.c
Download larger JPG
image (2.5 MB)
Page 4 of 5
Notes for the Editor
About Emerson Process Management
Emerson Process Management (www.EmersonProcess.com), an Emerson business, is a
leader in helping businesses automate their production, processing and distribution in the
chemical, oil and gas, refining, pulp and paper, power, water and wastewater treatment,
metals and mining, food and beverage, pharmaceutical and other industries. The
company combines superior products and technology with industry-specific engineering,
consulting, project management and maintenance services. Its brands include
PlantWeb®, Fisher®, Micro Motion®, Rosemount®, Rosemount Analytical®, Daniel®,
Bristol®, DeltaV™, Ovation®, and AMS® Suite.
About Emerson
Emerson, based in St. Louis, is a global leader in bringing technology and engineering
together to provide innovative solutions to customers through its network power, process
management, industrial automation, climate technologies, and appliance and tools
businesses. For more information, visit www.Emerson.com
PlantWeb and Rosemount, are marks owned by one of the Emerson Process Management legal entities. Other marks are
property of their respective owners.
Page 5 of 5
CONTACT ADDRESSES:
If you wish to publish for your readers the contact information for
Emerson Process Management, the relevant information will be:
Emerson Process Management
Blegistrasse 21
6341 Baar
Switzerland
Email:
infocentral@ap.emersonprocess.com
Web:
www.EmersonProcess.eu
FURTHER PRESS INFORMATION:
Our Ref:
501695Eur
Issued by:
HHC Lewis Limited
22-26 Commercial Road
Southampton
SO15 1GE
UK
Tel: +44 (0)23 8022 6361
Fax: +44 (0)23 8033 1585
Technical enquiries to:
Email:
Adrian Chesney
adrian.chesney@hhc-lewis.co.uk