SCADA / Remote Monitoring

CUSTOMER BACKGROUND

A crown corporation that provides hydroelectric power for Eastern Canada and the north-eastern parts of the United States. They are the world's largest producer of hydroelectric power.

Their Challenge

The goal was to be able to gather up-to-date information on water levels collected at their hydropower generating stations (reservoirs or rivers) as well as the ability to monitor weather systems (e.g. storms) and how the weather would affect their operations and electricity demand of its customers. The amount of power generated by rivers depend on the flow of the water, hence the importance of acquiring the most accurate data to ensure electricity demands are continually met. Water supplies in reservoirs, on the other hand, can be regulated which offers greater flexibility when electricity consumption fluctuates. Knowing the water levels in these reservoirs are equally important if demand increases.

The Result

Running on the MSAT network using an SDX1100 terminal, the corporation could achieve real-time monitoring of water levels and consumption at both reservoir and river generating stations. The statistics gathered by the system are then able to help accurately predict the water levels needed for generating hydroelectric power for its customers.

CUSTOMER BACKGROUND

A world leader in industrial and medical gases, and other related services. Its core business involves supplying oxygen, nitrogen, hydrogen and many other gases and services to a variety of industries including steel, oil refining, chemicals, glass, electronics, healthcare, food processing, metallurgy, paper and aerospace.

Their Challenge

With the business scope that is the core of this company's operations, it is absolutely critical that a robust and scalable communications system be implemented to sustain the amount of information that is exchanged between all the various research centers and satellite offices which make up its corporate grid. The network needs to be able to collect and secure the data generated by the research and development core, leaving little room for errors and other issues often faced by terrestrial modes of communication.

The Result

What was proposed in 2006 was to install a Connect system in each of their facilities. The company turned to Infosat Communications for the implementation, and the primary use of the network is for Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) along their river pipelines. For this company specifically, it is used to monitor chemical, physical and transport processes. Whether its their research site set up on the Gulf coast or the central hub set up to monitor the river pipeline networks, Infosat's Connect system represents a technological breakthrough for wide area networks which have traditionally been limited by the difficulties presented by extreme weather and terrain.

OTHER CUSTOMER APPLICATIONS

CUSTOMER BACKGROUND

An international natural gas company which operates 40 unmanned offshore exploration platforms near the Caribbean Island of Trinidad.

Their Challenge
The company's offshore platforms required a scalable communications system able to connect with one another to form a network for exchanging data and other pertinent information during exploration. Since these platforms are unmanned, a system which allowed for complete onshore control was recommended.

The Result
A radio microwave systems equipped with voice and data capabilities were installed for each offshore platform. Each wireless system has the ability to communicate with all the other platforms, completing an offshore communication "ring" which then links back to the central onshore office in Trinidad. Employees onshore can then monitor each platform with relative ease and have the ability to shut down platform operations if necessary via the microwave system.

CUSTOMER BACKGROUND

A major oil and gas company with ten oil exploration stations in Northeastern British Columbia.

Their Challenge
The 10 stations were over 100 miles away from the central hub and there was no landline access to these stations, thus making regular communication calls extremely difficult. Long delays resulted when problems arose at these stations, where technical issues or emergencies may not be known for quite some time.

The Result
Infosat, with its Connect system, installed a SCADA solution to remotely monitor and control each of these 10 exploration stations. Any alerts from the oil station are then transferred in the form of text messages to employees via Iridium satellite pagers. These alerts quickly notified management of any emergencies, service requirements to the rig equipment or other time-sensitive information. As a result of utilizing different communications technologies, this unique system demonstrates Infosat's ability to customize a communications system that is tailored to each business and their operations.