Critical Need for Optimised Performance in the Oil & Gas Industry Spurs Demand for Industrial Automation Solutions

Oct 09, 2014 16:30 JST

Source: OSEA

SINGAPORE, Oct 09, 2014 - (ACN Newswire) - Analysts[1] have forecast that the global Industrial Automation Control market to grow at a CAGR of almost seven per cent from 2013 to 2018, with increasing demand for automation control systems from the oil and gas industry being one of the key contributing factors. As oil and gas become more challenging to extract and store, companies, in a bid to maintain business sustainability, are seeking new ways to boost work flow and performance, lower energy wastage, and better manage overall operational costs.

OSEA2014 caught up with Alf Kare Adnanes, ABB's Vice President, Technology Manager - Marine & Cranes, to gather his insights into the developments in industrial automation for the Oil & Gas industry. ABB, a global leader in power and automation technologies, is participating at OSEA2014 in a big way, with an exhibition booth and Mr. Adnanes will be presenting at the OSEA2014 International Conference's Stakeholders Panel on 4 December.

Oil & Gas sector - what lies ahead for industrial automation players

AKA: The rapid development in communication and IT, as well as the feasibility of integrating field operations with onshore operational centres, will see new solutions for integrating automation and information systems. This development has already begun, and is expected to have significant growth potential.

For the marine/shipping side of the offshore oil and gas industries, adoption of these technologies is lagging other industries. There is a vast opportunity in utilising modern automation in terms of optimising the performance of vessels, reducing fuel consumption, and to have a much better monitoring of the performance as well as technical conditions of the plant. We see opportunities to be utilised first in the higher end segments where the daily values in charters and costs can justify the return of such investments.

The need to adapt for challenging environments

AKA: In general, the automation solution is changing from being loop-oriented to be process- and plant- oriented. Optimising loops are being extended to optimise the overall process and plant control systems. As a consequence of this, the requirements for reporting performance have increased. Safety and availability becomes more important as operations are moved to more challenging environments and less accessible areas; which means that automation systems become more advanced in terms of monitoring and predicting performance and technical conditions. Remote connectivity towards shore-based operational centres with the operators and/or suppliers also gains more importance.

End-users' reluctance to migrate to the latest technology

AKA: Such reluctance is not necessarily unhealthy, as one should always consider the benefits of upgrading the plant to the costs of upgrade and potential disturbances in the system.

My thoughts about this are, that when making a major investment in a new plant, or upgrade, the decision should not only be based on what you get today, but to also consider the long term strategy for the technology being selected. The technology is moving fast, and it is impossible to always have the latest technology installed in all plants; but it is still possible to plan for the years to come by designing a system that has the ability to extend in structure and functionality without replacing all of it. There might be additional costs to a system that is designed for long term operation and compatibility to future technologies, but this allows for a much more continuous and gradual implementation of new technologies that will provide a steady improvement in the performance and efficiency of the plant.

Showcasing top-notch industrial automation solutions at OSEA2014

OSEA2014 is set to unveil a lineup of industrial automation system solutions that enable manufacturers, processors and even transporters in the oil and gas industry to manage their assets and costs effectively across the value chain. Visitors will be able to get in-depth information on how they can build on existing software or systems to enhance workflow processes, improve plant or process efficiency and even enhance output and safety through controls or instruments that can accurately pinpoint the location to drill for oil or gas.

Aside from ABB, companies such as 3R Software Solutions, D'Mark Technologies, Endress + Hauser (S.E.A), Honeywell, Imtech Marine, International Metal Engineering, Masstron, MIE Industrial, Mitsubishi Electric Asia, PRUFTECHNIK S.E.A., Rockwell Automation, Seal Control, Siemens, Vega Instruments (SEA), Wyeco Auto Valves and Yokogawa will be highlighting their industrial automation solutions at the event.

OGmTech2014 - Manufacturing solutions for oil and gas

OGmTech, the International Exhibition on Manufacturing Technology for Oil & Gas, will make its debut at OSEA2014. Focusing on definitive manufacturing solutions, OGmTech2014 represents a value-added platform that brings forth an array of formidable, high-end precision engineering technologies and capabilities for the Oil & Gas industry.

OSEA2014 International Conference - Prominent platform for in-depth discussions

Held concurrently with OSEA2014, the conference provides an invaluable ground for in-depth discussions that tackles the needs of Asia's oil and gas industry.

Featuring a new theme "Unlocking the Full Potential of Offshore Reserves with Innovative Solutions", the Conference has 10 tracks to address pertinent topics such as the future outlook for oil and gas supply and exploration, resource management through oilfield recovery, latest developments and technologies in unconventional and deepwater environments, specialised panel sessions as well as two workshops focusing on best practices in drilling & well design and asset integrity management.

For show updates, please visit the OSEA website, Facebook and LinkedIn.

OSEA website: http://www.osea-asia.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/osea.asia
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/groups/OSEA-2743037

[1] http://bit.ly/1o0JLlN

Related URL -

ABB: http://new.abb.com/
OSEA2014 International Conference: http://osea-asia.com/index.php/conference/

Events at a Glance:

OSEA2014 Exhibition

Date:          2 - 5 December 2014, Tuesday - Friday
Venue:         Marina Bay Sands, Singapore, Basement 2, Level 1 and 3
Opening hours: 10.30am - 6:00pm daily
Admission:     Business and trade professionals
Website:       www.osea-asia.com
Visitor registration:
 http://osea-asia.com/index.php/to-visit/visitor-pre-registration
Media registration:
 http://osea-asia.com/index.php/media/press-registration/
 
OSEA2014 International Conference

Date:           2 - 5 December 2014, Tuesday - Friday
Venue:          Marina Bay Sands, Singapore, Level 3
Admission:      Registered delegates only
Website:
 http://osea-asia.com/index.php/conference/
Delegate registration:
 http://osea-asia.com/index.php/conference/#conf-fee-reg

Contact:

Juliet Tseng
Senior PR Executive
Singapore Exhibition Services
Tel: +65 6233 6635
Email: Juliet@sesallworld.com

June Seah
PR Manager
Singapore Exhibition Services
Tel: +65 6233 6621 
Email: june.seah@sesallworld.com

Source: OSEA
Sectors: Gas & Oil, Nuclear, Energy, Alternatives