Synectics, surveillance and North Sea investment

Synectics believes that intelligent systems integration is central to maximizing the current investment boost in the northern seas.

North Sea investment

Investment in northern seas oil and gas development has risen, with further boosts predicted in the next year. However, without an intelligent, unified approach to systems integration, higher operating costs and tighter margins will leave the sector vulnerable.

Synectics believes that surveillance is the key to tackling this issue and will be explaining why at Offshore Northern Seas (ONS) 2014, taking place 25-28 August in Stavanger, Norway.

Extra oil

Amedeo Simonetto, Business Development Director at Synectics, explained: “Estimates suggest that the Norwegian Continental Shelf (NCS) is capable of producing a further 85.2 billion barrels of oil, a fact which has seen projected investment spend up to US$ 37.35 billion in 2014 (from just US$ 2.34 billion last year).

“It’s also reported that The UK Continental Shelf (UKCS) holds up to 24 billion more barrels of oil. With the UK Government announcing tax breaks to boost exploration activity, investment levels are also predicted to rise here.

“With operational costs at an all-time high, margins are being squeezed in every sense. Unifying key site systems to achieve maximum operational efficiency can be integral to generating crucial cost savings. An intelligently integrated surveillance command and control platform is the best way to achieve this.”

Integrated surveillance

With over 25 years’ experience in delivering end-to-end surveillance control systems for the oil and gas sector, Synectics has first-hand experience of the safety, security and cost benefits that integrated surveillance delivers.

Amedeo continued: “The ability for systems - from access control, process control, and emergency alerts, through to personnel tracking and radar - to integrate via a single command and control platform, allows collaboration between departments and systems to ensure a consistent and proactive approach to site management and security.

“Inefficiencies from unnecessary system overlaps are removed, workflows become more efficient and response times to production and security incidents are improved thus enabling more to be achieved with less. And not just for one site. Federated site integration is now not just possible, it’s preferable, as it ensures asset expansions – involving multiple platforms, FSPOs or support vessels - can be monitored and controlled as a single entity. This saves time, resource and importantly, money.”

Synectics portfolio

Synectics will be available throughout ONS 2014 on stand J980 to discuss the benefits and potential of intelligent integration, and to deliver interactive demonstrations using its recently launched Synergy 3 command and control platform, which offers flexible tiered licensing to match project scale and predicted growth.

Visitors will also be able to interact with Synectics’ respected COEX™ C-range series of camera stations, including the latest COEX™ TriMode camera station which offers three light-condition operating modes in one unit, for greater operational flexibility and image clarity in all possible light conditions.

Challenging environment

Amedeo said: “There are fewer oil and gas environments more challenging than the northern continental shelves. Poor visibility, storm conditions and offshore hazardous areas, mean that camera durability, reliability and quality is critical.

“Advances in this field, combined with the system integration capabilities now possible, mean that those operating in the region have a real opportunity to capitalise on current and predicted investment booms, knowing that they are using surveillance technology to keep costs down, and sites safe.”

Adapted from press release by Katie Woodward

Read the article online at: https://www.oilfieldtechnology.com/exploration/07072014/synectics_and_surveillance_in_the_north_sea_989/