Cloud-Configured RTUs for Remote Well Device Commissioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Operators at hydrocarbon well sites face challenges in configuring, commissioning, and maintaining remote terminal units (RTUs) due to remote locations and lack of access to technical support, which affects the efficient operation and optimization of hydrocarbon production.
Innovation Solution
A cloud-based computing system that automatically configures and manages RTUs by connecting them to a cloud-computing system, providing software updates, and analyzing data to optimize operations, enabling real-time adjustments and improved production efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If RTUs are deployed at remote hydrocarbon well sites, then hydrocarbon production can be monitored and controlled, but operators cannot access technical support for configuration, commissioning, and maintenance
Solution Approach 1:
A cloud-based computing system acts as an intermediary between RTUs at remote well sites and operators/technical support personnel. The system receives data from RTUs, provides automated configuration, and enables remote monitoring and maintenance capabilities without requiring physical access to the remote well site.
Solution Approach 2:
The cloud-based system enables RTUs to automatically configure themselves by receiving configuration parameters and software packages from the cloud computing system, eliminating the need for operators to manually configure each RTU at remote locations.
2Ease of operation
If manual configuration and commissioning of RTUs is performed at remote locations, then technical support can be provided, but it requires physical access to remote well sites
Solution Approach 1:
The cloud-based computing system serves as an intermediary platform that enables remote technical support and configuration activities. Operators can access and configure RTUs, receive technical support, and perform maintenance tasks remotely through the cloud interface without traveling to remote well sites.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary configuration and commissioning actions automatically through the cloud before RTUs are deployed or before they need maintenance, reducing the time required for on-site technical support activities.
3Ease of operation
If cloud-based automatic configuration is implemented, then RTU configuration and maintenance is simplified, but the system requires cloud connectivity
Solution Approach 1:
RTUs automatically perform self-configuration by receiving configuration parameters, software packages, and operational data from the cloud-based computing system. This automated self-service approach simplifies configuration while the cloud infrastructure manages the complexity of connectivity requirements.
Data Source
AI summary
A remote terminal unit (RTU) may control one or more operations a well device associated with a hydrocarbon well. The RTU may include a processor that may broadcast a request to communicatively couple to a cloud-computing system. The processor may then receive a confirmation from the cloud-computing system indicating that the RTU has successfully communicatively coupled to the cloud-computing system and send one or more attributes regarding the RTU, the well device, the hydrocarbon well, or any combination thereof to the cloud-computing system. The processor may then receive one or more software packages from the cloud-computing system based on the attributes. Using the software packages, the processor may control the operations of the well device.