IP Video Technology Used To Monitor Offshore Oil Drilling Rig

  • Nov 12, 2010

IndigoVision’s complete IP video technology has been used to upgrade real-time monitoring onboard the Polar Pioneer exploration rig, having passed an extensive and rigorous testing program in a harsh and challenging environment. The new IP-CCTV system monitors the platform drilling operation to ensure safe and efficient operation at all times and provides the rig with a scalable solution for future expansion.

“Using IP-CCTV technology onboard a drilling platform is a major breakthrough for us,” said Per Jogeir Karlsbakk, Fugro Oceanor’s CCTV Project Engineer. “We demonstrated that IndigoVision’s system exceeded their demanding specification and now the rig benefits from the operational flexibility that IP video delivers.”

Offshore drilling platforms have traditionally relied on analog CCTV due to the need for full frame-rate video with minimum latency. Having proved, through a successful pilot installation, that the IP video system guaranteed no dropped frames and delivered excellent quality video at very low latency, IndigoVision’s partner, Norway based Fugro Oceanor AS, deployed the system throughout the rig. The driving force behind the CCTV upgrade was the continuing problems of supporting an ageing analog system and the lack of expansion capability.

Based in the North Sea, Polar Pioneer is operated by StatoilHydro, one of the world's largest oil companies. The rig is a semi-submersible drilling platform, capable of operating in harsh environments in water depths of up to 500 meters and is able to drill to an amazing depth of 7,000 meters.

Operational running costs for a platform of this kind are high, so any downtime from technical problems is unacceptable. Reliability is therefore a fundamental requirement for the CCTV system. Unlike analog systems that use a central switching matrix, IndigoVision’s IP video solution is distributed and doesn’t have a single point of failure. Its multi-way racks that house the MPEG-4 transmitter/receiver modules have built-in redundancy with dual network connections and power supplies.

The operators use ‘Control Center’, IndigoVision’s Security Management Software, to view live video from 24 cameras around the rig. The analog cameras are fitted in specialist housings manufactured from 316L stainless steel by Fugro Oceanor and are designed to handle the harsh environment caused by corrosion, mud and oil. Many of the cameras are EX rated for use in hazardous areas. Fugro Oceanor has also developed a special cable for the harsh environment that carries power, digital video and telemetry.

“As the IP video system is distributed, video management workstations can be located anywhere on the network” Karlsbakk said. “StatoilHydro currently monitor the video from both the rig’s main surveillance centre and the drilling cabin and plan to expand the system so real-time video can be streamed to onshore surveillance centers.”

Featured

  • From Surveillance to Intelligence

    Years ago, it would have been significantly more expensive to run an analytic like that — requiring a custom-built solution with burdensome infrastructure demands — but modern edge devices have made it accessible to everyone. It also saves time, which is a critical factor if a missing child is involved. Video compression technology has played a critical role as well. Over the years, significant advancements have been made in video coding standards — including H.263, MPEG formats, and H.264—alongside compression optimization technologies developed by IP video manufacturers to improve efficiency without sacrificing quality. The open-source AV1 codec developed by the Alliance for Open Media—a consortium including Google, Netflix, Microsoft, Amazon and others — is already the preferred decoder for cloud-based applications, and is quickly becoming the standard for video compression of all types. Read Now

  • Cost: Reactive vs. Proactive Security

    Security breaches often happen despite the availability of tools to prevent them. To combat this problem, the industry is shifting from reactive correction to proactive protection. This article will examine why so many security leaders have realized they must “lead before the breach” – not after. Read Now

  • Achieving Clear Audio

    In today’s ever-changing world of security and risk management, effective communication via an intercom and door entry communication system is a critical communication tool to keep a facility’s staff, visitors and vendors safe. Read Now

  • Beyond Apps: Access Control for Today’s Residents

    The modern resident lives in an app-saturated world. From banking to grocery delivery, fitness tracking to ridesharing, nearly every service demands another download. But when it comes to accessing the place you live, most people do not want to clutter their phone with yet another app, especially if its only purpose is to open a door. Read Now

  • Survey: 48 Percent of Worshippers Feel Less Safe Attending In-Person Services

    Almost half (48%) of those who attend religious services say they feel less safe attending in-person due to rising acts of violence at places of worship. In fact, 39% report these safety concerns have led them to change how often they attend in-person services, according to new research from Verkada conducted online by The Harris Poll among 1,123 U.S. adults who attend a religious service or event at least once a month. Read Now

Most   Popular

New Products

  • Compact IP Video Intercom

    Viking’s X-205 Series of intercoms provide HD IP video and two-way voice communication - all wrapped up in an attractive compact chassis.

  • EasyGate SPT and SPD

    EasyGate SPT SPD

    Security solutions do not have to be ordinary, let alone unattractive. Having renewed their best-selling speed gates, Cominfo has once again demonstrated their Art of Security philosophy in practice — and confirmed their position as an industry-leading manufacturers of premium speed gates and turnstiles.

  • PE80 Series

    PE80 Series by SARGENT / ED4000/PED5000 Series by Corbin Russwin

    ASSA ABLOY, a global leader in access solutions, has announced the launch of two next generation exit devices from long-standing leaders in the premium exit device market: the PE80 Series by SARGENT and the PED4000/PED5000 Series by Corbin Russwin. These new exit devices boast industry-first features that are specifically designed to provide enhanced safety, security and convenience, setting new standards for exit solutions. The SARGENT PE80 and Corbin Russwin PED4000/PED5000 Series exit devices are engineered to meet the ever-evolving needs of modern buildings. Featuring the high strength, security and durability that ASSA ABLOY is known for, the new exit devices deliver several innovative, industry-first features in addition to elegant design finishes for every opening.