A Stratos White Paper

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Choosing the right
satellite solution for oil
& gas SCADA applications
The Value of SCADA in the Oil Industry
The technical challenges of keeping oil or gas reserves owingsafely, efciently and
securelyfrom a point of discovery beneath the earth to points of sale in the marketplace
can keep operators awake at night. Enormous investments and returns are at stake. If oil or
gas production is interrupted for any reason, due, for example, to a pump malfunction or
pipeline compressor failure, operators immediately begin losing money. Revenues lost today
are lost forever. Worse yet, gas leaks, oil spills, explosions and other disasters can wreak
environmental havoc, threaten public health and safety, disrupt business and society, and
spark potentially enormous legal claims and costs. Business continuity, therefore, is essential
to economic success.
Knowing what is happening, when it is happening, at remote assets far from headquarters
is one important key to business continuity. In the past, the only way to monitor or maintain
pipelines, pumps and other mission-critical systems was by sending out a trained technician to
each site, daily or several times a week. Yet, after repeated cycles of boom and bust, skilled
eld personnel have become increasingly scarce. Therefore, savvy operators today track the
status and condition of remote equipment through Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition
(SCADA) systems. SCADA services offer faster access to vital, up-to-date information from far-
ung operations using a variety of terrestrial and satellite communication technologies.
Modern SCADA solutions improve oileld maintenance scheduling, maximize operational
efciency, reduce production costs, prevent catastrophes, enhance both site and network
security, support urgent decision-making processes, and ensure peace of mind. However,
because there are many different SCADA communication options on the market today, at
widely varying bandwidths and price points, it is critical for operators and oileld service
providers to match potential solutions with their particular needs, budgets, geographic
locations, and technical skills.
This paper outlines the four main areas of SCADA applications in the oil and gas industry;
describes the four basic SCADA communication options available today (with an emphasis
on satellite solutions); explains how to choose the right satellite technology and identify an
ideal communications provider; and illustrates the value of several satellite SCADA solutions
in action.
Modern SCADA
solutions improve
oileld maintenance
scheduling, maximize
operational efciency,
reduce production
costs, prevent
catastrophes, enhance
both site and network
security, support urgent
decision-making
processes, and ensure
peace of mind.
s t rat osgl obal . com
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Where SCADA Applications are used in Oil and Gas
In the oil and gas industry, SCADA systems are used to monitor and control processes at
many remote locations, both upstream and downstream. The four major areas of SCADA
usage are:
* Explorollon * Producllon * lronsporlollon * Rehnlng
Exploration
On drilling rigs and platforms, SCADA communications networks provide headquarters with
access to data from various surface and downhole systems that enable remote supervision,
expert analysis and real-time decision-making. In addition, rig operators and crew require
voice, fax, Internet access, and at times even streaming video, which may need to travel over
the same communication networks.
Production
Unlike drilling locations, most producing elds and wells are unmanned, and many are
found in increasingly remote, isolated and harsh environments. With the dwindling supply of
experienced eld personnel, SCADA communications are essential to monitor temperatures,
pressures, ow volumes, tanks levels and other operational parameters of pumps, wellheads,
and storage facilities. With remote data and diagnostics, a single technician can monitor
several hundred wells, and identify those with potential problems requiring attention
before they seriously impact productionoptimizing both maintenance and transportation
scheduling.
Transportation
In the transportation sector, oil and gas pipelines have been active users of SCADA for
decades. Key SCADA applications include ow metering, compressor monitoring, and
cathodic protection (monitoring the integrity of the pipeline itself). Depending on the need,
pipeline operators may poll remote SCADA devices every few seconds or just once or
twice a day. Because downtime is intolerable, it is common for pipeline operators to deploy
redundant SCADA communication systems, with backups on an entirely different network
to ensure reliability. If they lose communications withand thus the ability to monitor and
controla section of pipe carrying explosive content, operators are forced to shut down that
portion of the pipeline until both communications and safety can be guaranteed. This, of
course, can be extremely costly.
Rening
Finally, more reneries are using remote video surveillance to monitor access to and activity
on the property, as well as critical tanks, valves and machinery. They tend to have very high
safety and security needs.
Production
FPO
Exploration
FPO
Transportation
FPO
Rening
FPO
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SCADA in a Nutshell
The SCADA concept is simple. A remote measurement or control unit (RTU) is attached to a
downhole sensor, well, tank, pipeline or other piece of equipment in the eld. That remote
unit, which monitors certain critical operating parameters (e.g. temperature, pressure, ow
rate), is connected to a communications terminal or modem of some kindphone, radio,
cellular or satellite.
Data is delivered over a communications network to a SCADA host system at a central
location elsewhere, typically a regional or corporate headquarters.
Remote units can be programmed to automatically transmit information on a predetermined
schedule, send alerts when certain thresholds are exceeded (i.e. report by exception),
or respond only when the host requests or polls data at preset intervals (seconds,
minutes, hours or days). The SCADA host, or middleware system, stores and presents that
informationusually onlineto authorized users and decision-makers, who can act on it
swiftly and appropriately.
SCADA Communication Options to Choose From
1. Telephone
In the early days of SCADA, installing a land line was considered a reasonable means of
communication with a remote site. The phone company would bring in a line, and charge for
the connection according to the distance from its nearest substation.
* Pros. Operators originally installed an analog modem of some type. Service was
considered reliable, especially before other SCADA communication options became
widespread. Over time, analog lines were replaced by digital circuits, which offered higher
speeds and better data quality.
* Cons. Some SCADA sites using telephone are still in use. However, few SCADA operators
today consider land lines a good investment. Due to the extreme distance to many remote
locations, installation charges can run tens of thousands of dollars. Furthermore, few phone
companies are either interested or experienced in SCADA, because returns on investment are
very low. As a result, reliability and availability are not what they used to be. Most oil and
gas operators rely on another form of communication.
2. Radio
Radio technology is very common in oil and gas industry SCADA networks.
* Pros. Radio equipment is inexpensive and easy to install, has no monthly recurring charges
after installation, and requires very low power to operate. Radio options for SCADA include
For SCADA
communications today,
operators and service
providers in the oil and
gas industry have four
basic options to choose
from:
1. Telephone
2. Radio
3. Cellular
4. Satellite
Each alternative has pros
and cons, depending on
the particular location
and SCADA application
under consideration.
Components of a
SCADA system include
remote measurement
units in the eld, a
communications network
back to headquarters,
and a SCADA host that
provides online access
to users in the ofce.
FPO
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a variety of licensed and unlicensed frequency bands. Often radios are used to link a number
of remote sites within a certain geographic area to a single central hub, which utilizes
satellite to deliver SCADA information back to headquarters.
* Cons. Despite the low cost of entry for radio equipment, in certain regions it may be
necessary to pay licensing fees for the radio band required. Whats more, radio requires
a clear line of sight to function. Depending on topography, buildings and local vegetation,
operators may have to build radio towers and install repeaters, as needed, to secure that line
of sight. Towers and radio networks can be prohibitively expensive, not only to build but also
to negotiate the right-of-way issues and insure against potential liabilities. If a radio tower
is tall enough, it may be legally required to have lights, which operators must monitor and
maintain as well. Many communication towers, both in energy and other industries, install
separate SCADA units just to monitor the lights.
3. Cellular
Not surprisingly, cellular offers a rapidly growing alternative for oileld SCADA
communications, especially as cellular providers continue expanding their coverage from
established urban areas into increasingly remote regions.
* Pros. Cell services tend to be fast and cheap, and do not require operators to install their
own infrastructure. As such, some SCADA users consider cellular the obvious rst choice,
even before exploring other options. However, certain downsides to cellular services are
worth understanding.
* Con #1: Relloblllly. First, signal availability and reliability remain a problem, as all cell
phone users know from personal experience. There are still many remote rural areaseven
in countries like the United Stateswhere there is no cell coverage at all. Many oil and gas
operations lie within or near these blank zones on the coverage map. Even where service
does exist, depending on the location, cellular networks can become congested at various
times of day, connections can be dropped, and it may be necessary to redial repeatedly
to get through. This is not only frustrating, but can also create signicant issues for mission-
critical SCADA applications that cannot tolerate downtime.
* Con #2: Melwork Securlly. A second concern with cellular communications is network
security. Due to the proprietary nature of SCADA information and the corporate networks
over which it travels, as well as the vulnerability of software and servers on those networks,
oil and gas companies are particularly sensitive to security issues. Cyber attacks over the
Internet and malware aimed specically at SCADA systems have actually occurred in other
industries. Recently, for example, malware was discovered that could log into a specic
brand of SCADA databases, steal design and control les, and maliciously alter the control
system. Most cellular networks use the public Internet, not secure private networks, to
Radio requires a clear line
of sight to function, and
building big towers can be
prohibitively expensive.
FPO
Many SCADA users
consider cell service an
obvious rst choice, but
cellular has at least four
signicant downsides
operators need to know.
FPO
Land lines were the original
SCADA communication
option. Today, they are
usually too costly to install.
FPO
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deliver SCADA information from remote locations. For this reason, many within the SCADA
communlly conslder cellulor securlly lnodequole. Publlc lP [lnlernel Prolocol| oddresses ore
too easy to hack into. Although some cellular providers can arrange to set up a private
networkif an oil and gas operator has enough sites to warrant the extra effortSCADA
communications remain very low on their list of priorities.
* Con #3: SCADA Experllse. A third major issue, therefore, with the cellular alternative
is that SCADA is just not a core business for these companies. Most cellular providers
have not entered the SCADA business intentionally or even knowingly; they have, rather,
found themselves in it simply because some of their customers use their networks to transmit
SCADA information. They offer no specic SCADA service or support, and have no SCADA
expertise. Customer service representatives have no background or technical training in the
unique challenges and demands of SCADA, and may have no idea how to resolve a SCADA
customers most urgent problems.
* Con #4: Globol Reoch. A nal downside is that cellular coverage tends to be regionalized
or nationalized. Therefore, it may prove impossible (or a major logistical challenge) for an
operator or oileld service company to build a unied, global SCADA network using cell
service to monitor and control remote sites in multiple countries.
4. Satellite
Oil and gas operators have been using very small aperture terminal (VSAT) satellite services
for SCADA communications since the 1980s, often, as noted above, in combination with
locollzed rodlo nelworks. Plpellne componles were some ol lhe eorllesl odoplers ol solelllle,
and remain the largest SCADA segment within the industry today. Back when land lines and
analog phone circuits were the main communication routes for SCADA in the oil industry,
VSAT terminals provided a seamless transition to next-generation technology for pipeline
operators. All they needed was a generator or battery, which most locations already had in
place. Today, VSAT is just one of many satellite solutions for SCADA on the market, and more
are being developed all the time.
When operators and service companies have many communication choices in a particular
area, they tend to consider satellite last. When other options are unavailable, satellite is their
only alternative. Satellite offers highly reliable communications that are ideal for SCADA
applications in remote areas where terrestrial and cellular options are unreliable, insufciently
secure, logistically difcult to deploy, cost prohibitive or simply non-existent.
Like cellular, there are no lines to install and no infrastructure to build. Unlike cellular,
leading satellite providers offer a variety of secure, private network options to avoid
exposing proprietary data over the public Internet. Satellite SCADA solutions also come in
an increasingly broad range of bandwidths and performance rates. While monthly recurring
fees for satellite services are generally higher than other SCADA communication solutions,
some of the lower-end options are comparable.
The oil industry has been
using VSAT for SCADA
communications since
the 1980s. VSAT offers
high bandwidths at xed
monthly fees.
FPO
CASE STUDY:
One oil and gas
operator with assets
close to a metropolitan
area put its SCADA
terminals on a familiar
cellular network.
Unfortunately, several
times per day data
trafc either got
interrupted or could
not get through at all
due to uctuating cell
phone usage at a
nearby educational
institution. SCADA
communications had
to contend with local
cellular trafc and, in
many cases, lost. As
a result, the operator
switched to satellite.
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While many satellite SCADA options now exist, two types of technology based on two
microwave frequencies used by modern communication satellites are more common:
Ku-band, and L-band. Consider the following pros and cons of each type.
* KuBond Pros. VSAT systems have traditionally used Ku-band, and offer unlimited
transmissions at high bandwidth for a xed monthly rate. Operators appreciate the ability to
transfer large amounts of dataranging from less than 1 MB up to 1,000 MB per monthat
predictable fees. There are literally tens of thousands of VSAT terminals in the oil industry
today.
* KuBond Cons. At times, Ku-band communications may be susceptible to signal degradation
or attenuation during signicant rainfall, a phenomenon known as rain fade. For this
reason, mission-critical oileld applicationsfor example, pipeline monitoringroutinely
deploy a back-up system of a different kind to ensure reliability of SCADA communications
under all weather conditions. Also, VSAT antennas may be as large as 1.2 m (4 ft) in
diameter. Installation and conguration of a VSAT system and proper aiming of the dish
require a trained technician.
* LBond Pros. Modern L-band SCADA systems use satellites placed either in geostationary
eorlh orbll [GEC| such os lnmorsol, or low eorlh orbll [LEC| such os lrldlum. Vhlle LEC
satellites are closer to earth, the signal from a terminal on the ground must switch every few
mlnules lrom one solelllle lo onolher movlng ocross lhe sky. GEC solelllles remoln ln o hxed
position over the earth, so a SCADA terminal transmits 24/7 to a single satellite. Both have
odvonloges, bul GECbosed Lbond communlcollons lend lo be more relloble ond seomless.
All L-band solutions offer global connectivity, and require much smaller terminals, which are
easier to install than VSAT and unaffected by weather. For these reasons, deployments of
L-band solutions have been spreading in recent years, especially among organizations with
global operations. Some companies in the oil industry now use L-band as their sole SCADA
communications network, while others use it as backup to their primary Ku-band network.
L-band systems come in a wide range of data transfer rates, providing operators and service
companies with more opportunities to ne-tune their SCADA communications to the frequency
and volume of polling information required to meet their specic needs.
* LBond Cons. Because L-band systems charge by the total amount of data transferred each
month, recurring fees vary and tend to be higher overall than other SCADA communication
options. Although xed rates similar to VSAT are not under consideration at this time,
additional pricing models for certain SCADA offeringssuch as Inmarsats Broadband
Globol Areo Melwork [BGAM|wlll be rolled oul ln lhe lulure. ln ony cose, lo monoge cosls,
it is critical for operators to identify the most appropriate match between their particular
SCADA needs and available satellite solutions.
Satellite offers
highly reliable
communications that
are ideal for SCADA
applications in remote
areas where terrestrial
and cellular options
are unreliable,
insufciently secure,
logistically difcult
to deploy, cost
prohibitive or simply
non-existent.
FPO
L-band satellite terminals
like this one are
smaller, easier to install,
unaffected by weather,
and offer seamless global
connectivity. L-band
services based on satellites
in geostationary earth
orbit (GEO) tend
to be more reliable and
seamless.
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Determining the Right Satellite Solution for SCADA
A number of important criteria must be considered in determining the right satellite
communication solution for a particular oileld SCADA application. These include:
* Slze ond lrequency ol dolo lronsmlsslons
* Veolher condlllons
* lype ol remole monllorlng devlces ln
the eld
* Power sources ovolloble ol remole slles
* lechnlcol skllls ol held lechnlclons
* Reglonol or globol coveroge
Size and Frequency of Data Transmissions
The rst and most critical step in selecting the correct satellite SCADA solution is to determine
how much total data per month is required to satisfactorily monitor the SCADA process under
consideration. For example, some SCADA applications require only one or two polls per day.
Others, such as pipeline and compressor monitoring, may poll as often as every few seconds,
24 hours a day, seven days a week. A single data transfer, depending on the application,
may be only a few bytes or kilobytes, or it may be a megabyte or more in size.
While Ku-band terminals can deliver hundreds of MB per month, many oileld applications
dont require that much data. L-band terminals offering Iridium Short Burst Data services are
available today at very low data rates (< 10 KB/month). Terminals offering packet data
services over Inmarsats I-4 satellites are available at both very low and low data rates (10
KB10 MB,monlh|. Flnolly, lermlnols ollerlng vorlous lP servlces over lnmorsols BGAM
network are available at both low and medium data rates (> 10 MB/month). Several new
BGAM solullons hove been developed recenlly, lncludlng some deslgned speclhcolly lor
SCADA applications.

Weather Conditions
Oil and gas operations occur in all weather conditions worldwide, from deserts to the tropics
to arctic tundra. To determine the best satellite SCADA solution, operators should be aware
of local and regional rainfall levels. In some areas, a primary VSAT system may require a
nelworklndependenl bockup solullon. BGAM ls now consldered o relloble bockup opllon,
since L-band services are not vulnerable to rain fade. Of course, if the monthly data rate of a
porllculor SCADA oppllcollon does nol worronl lhe hlghend copoclly ol VSAl, BGAM moy
be ideal as the primary communication solution regardless of weather.
Ku-band terminals
can deliver hundreds
of MB per month.
Whereas L-band
terminalsincluding
some designed
specically for
SCADAoffer short
burst data services at
<10 KB per month;
packet data services
from <10 KB to 10
MB per month; and
various IP services
from <10 MB to >10
MB per month.
Where rainfall may be
high, L-band systems
can be used as
network-independent
backups to VSAT.
FPO
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Type of Remote Monitoring Devices in the Field
Many operators exploring current satellite communication alternatives already have remote
lermlnol unlls [Rls| or progrommoble loglc conlrollers [PLCs| lnslolled on lhelr equlpmenl ol
remote sites to gather vital SCADA information.
* Communlcollons lnlerloce. It is critical to know what type of communications interface
or interfaces those remote devices have. They may or may not be equipped to plug into a
phone, cellular, radio or satellite modem.
* Serlol or lP lnlerloce. ln oddlllon, lhey moy hove ellher o serlol or lP lnlerloce, or bolh.
Vhlle lrodlllonol serlol nelworks pollor sel up o coll" loeoch Rl one ol o llme, lP
networks appear to perform a broadcast poll to every remote device on the network
slmulloneously. Serlol Rls supporl much lower boud roles [e.g. P.Kbps| lhon lP nelworks
[e.g. 10Mbps|, whlch ls why lP communlcollons ore losler ond more elhclenl. ln oddlllon,
ollhough lodoys serlol nelworks usuolly run lnslde lP nelworks, lhey musl undergo prolocol
converslons lhol lP nelworks do nol. lhe opllmol cholce, lherelore, depends on lhe omounl
of data to be transferred, the frequency of polling required, as well as the number and type
ol Rls on lhe nelwork. Mol oll Rls ln lhe held lodoy ore lPenobled. Vhols more, mosl
satellite terminals are not equipped with serial interfaces (although they can be converted,
when necessary). Choosing the right solution requires a match between the remote
monitoring device and communications terminal.
Power Sources Available at Remote Sites
Frequently, the most signicant factor in selecting and conguring an efcient SCADA
communication system is power. Oil and gas operations in some locations have access to
AC or DC power. But many sites are so remote, the only available power may be batteries or
solar. These power sources can be adequate, but they must be managed carefully because
the more frequently a site is polled, the more power is required to run the equipment. In
addition, different satellite terminals require differing amounts of power. Hence, power
requirements can both limit the available communication options and impact the total cost of
SCADA operations.
Technical Skills of Field Technicians
The eld personnel that operators and oileld service companies employ are typically
experienced at installing, maintaining and repairing pumps, pipes, wellheads, tanks, motors
and other heavy equipment. Rarely are they skilled in the installation, conguration or
positioning of satellite communications technology. For this reason, it is essential to consider
the technical complexity or relative ease of implementing different satellite SCADA solutions
at remote locations.
RTUs come with different
interfaces both for
communications and for
either IP or serial networks.
FPO
Often, power is the most
important factor in identifying
the optimum SCADA
communication solution.
FPO
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* KuBond Syslems. In general, technicians with specialized technical training and skills must
set up and aim VSAT antennas. Typically it takes 30 minutes to an hour to properly point a
VSAT. Few operators can afford the additional expense of either training existing personnel
or hiring technicians just to install and maintain satellite communication systems in the eld.
When the particular SCADA application calls for it, however, the additional cost may be well
justied. On drilling rigs, for example, it is not unusual to pay a specialist to set up, congure,
break down and move a high-end VSAT system every time the rig moves to a new location.
* LBond Syslems. On the other hand, L-band terminals, which are smaller and simpler, are
both faster and easier to set up. They can be installed and pointed in minutes by almost
onyone wllh proper lnslrucllons. lhls ls onolher reoson lor lhe growlng populorlly ol BGAM
solutions in the oil industry.
Regional or Global Coverage
A nal consideration in choosing an appropriate satellite solution is whether or not the
SCADA network needs to be regional or global.
* KuBond Melworks. Ku-band solutions such as VSAT are ideal for regional implementations,
due to the satellites they use. There are no seamless, global VSAT constellations at this
time. VSAT communication providers typically use satellites that cover just North America,
or Europe, or some other part of the globe. In certain regions, such as Africa and South
America, VSAT is difcult to deploy due to regulatory obstacles or space limitations on
existing satellites. So building a single, unied VSAT network for remote locations in many
countries would involve cobbling together a variety of different satellites and networks, each
of which may have different pricing and licensing issues. Therefore, it is rarely done.
* LBond Melworks. By contrast, L-band solutions provide operators with a single, consistent
global network out of the box, as it were, because they use the same Iridium or Inmarsat
satellites anywhere on earth. These leading satellite owners have done an excellent job
obtaining the proper licensing for their systems in most countries across the world.
Identifying The Right Satellite SCADA Provider
Just as important as identifying the right satellite technology is nding the right SCADA
communications partner and service provider. Key factors to consider include:
* Porllollo ol SCADA communlcollons lechnologles
* Melwork relloblllly, securlly ond globol connecllvlly
* SCADA experllse ond lechnlcol supporl
* Volueodded servlces ond lurnkey solullons
Inmarsats L-band I-4
satellites cover almost
the entire planet,offering
global connectivity out
of the box. Ku-band
satellite services tend to
be regional.
FPO?
Certain SCADA satellite
systems are easier for
existing eld personnel
to install, congure, aim
and maintain.
FPO
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1. Portfolio of SCADA Communication Technologies
Depending on the range of SCADA challenges an operator or service company is facing, it
may be necessary to obtain several different SCADA communication technologies. A hybrid
solution might be required to monitor pipeline ow meters every few seconds, poll once a
doy lor colhodlc prolecllon, ond provlde redundonl bockup ln cose ol roln. Purchoslng lhese
from a single provider with a broad portfolio would be optimal.
* Brood Porllollo. Slrolos Globol, lor exomple, hos more ollernollves ln our currenl
portfolio than almost any other satellite communications provider in the world. Our SCADA
technologies range from high-bandwidth VSAT terminals to very low-bandwidth Iridium Short
Burst Data systems, and a variety of L-band terminals that leverage the Inmarsat I-4 satellite
nelwork, lncludlng severol BGAM solullons ond lhe new SkyVove lsolDolo Pro.
* nlque SCADA lermlnol. Stratos worked with a leading hardware manufacturer and major
oll lnduslry cuslomer lo develop, lesl ond deploy lhe worlds hrsl BGAM lermlnol deslgned
speclhcolly lor lhe SCADA morkelplocelhe BGAM SABRE Ronger, whlch con dellver
relatively high bandwidth and handle considerable data trafc. Stratos and our channel
partners worldwide remain the only organizations authorized to provide this unique SCADA
solution.
* Mlx ol Solullons. In addition, if a clients SCADA application requires a mix of both
satellite and other communication technologiessuch as radioit would simplify things if
all components could be obtained from the same source. At Stratos, we can also supply and
lnlegrole SCADA rodlo equlpmenl, ond even resell ond progrom Rls ond PLCs ll o cuslomer
does not have its own.
2. Network Reliability, Security and Global Connectivity.
In addition to satellite communications hardware, the reliability and security of the networks
that transmit or backhaul data from remote sites have a direct impact on the ultimate value
of SCADA solutions. Especially in the oil and gas industry, it is vital for communication
nelworks lo lnlegrole bolh lrodlllonol ond lPbosed SCADA lronsmlsslons ln one plollorm.
* MulllServlce Globol Melwork. StratosNexus is a good example. It is an extensive terrestrial
network infrastructure designed to securely connect remotes sites anywhere in the world to
corporate or regional headquarters. This seamlessly integrated, multi-service network links a
number of Land Earth Stations worldwidewhere satellite transmissions are brought down
to earthto major network facilities in Europe and the U.S., each of which is co-located with
multiple Tier 1 Internet backbone carriers.
VSAT
FPO?
BGAN SABRE Ranger
FPO?
SkyWave IsatData Pro
FPO?
Iridium Short Burst
Data 9522B
FPO?
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* Melwork Securlly Cpllons. Not only does StratosNexus provide extremely reliable
global connectivity, but it also offers operators exible backhaul options to ensure data
securlly, lncludlng: [1| leosed llnes, such os l1, [2| vlrluol prlvole nelworks [VPM|, ond
(3) double-hops for VSAT, which bring data into a secure hub before returning it to the
satellite for transmission back to headquarters. All three options enable proprietary SCADA
communications to completely bypass the public Internet.
* Slngle Globol lP Address. Furthermore, Stratos is the only provider that allows satellite
SCADA syslems ocross lhe world lo occess lhe some lerreslrlol nelwork uslng o slngle lP
oddress. Mormolly, lermlnols deployed ln dlllerenl counlrles or reglons requlre dlllerenl lP
addresses. This means that operators and oileld service companies with global operations
must recongure terminals any time they need to be moved from one region to another. With
o slngle globol lP oddress, lhey con sel up, lesl ond conhgure oll lermlnols ln one cenlrol
facility, and quickly deploy them anywhere.
3. SCADA Expertise and Technical Support
As noted earlier, telephone and cellular communication service providers have little to no
real interest, background or experience in the SCADA marketplace, much less oil and gas
industry-specic SCADA challenges. This can become a major and costly problem in case of
an outage or other interruption of communications with remote locations. It is vital, therefore,
to nd a partner and provider with substantial SCADA expertise and technical support.
* Dedlcoled 24,Z SCADA Supporl leom. Stratos, for example, has a 24/7 network
operations center (NOC) dedicated solely to SCADA communications. Unlike a typical
SCADA equipment supplier, we provide complete end-to-end SCADA communication
solutions. Our dedicated team of SCADA professionals has more than 25 years of knowledge
and hands-on experience. We launched our original VSAT SCADA services in North America
in 1986. One early differentiator was our willingness to set up highly reliable SCADA
communications networks for industry operators with as few as two or three sites, as well as
large networks with hundreds of sites.
* Proocllve Mollhcollon. We developed some unique customer service differentiators as well,
including internal systems that could detect and troubleshoot not only our satellite equipment,
but also the customers remote monitoring devices. In case of an outage, we do not wait for
operators to call in, but proactively alert them even before they are aware of a problem. Each
month, we provide a report detailing actual system reliability for the month, the number of
trouble tickets they had, and exactly where problems occurred. As a result, they can narrow
down the few sites where maintenance or repairs might be necessary, and send out the right
technician for the job.
For more than 25 years,
Stratos has had a 24/7
network operations
center dedicated soley to
SCADA communications.
FPO?
StratosNexus is a secure
terrestrial network designed
to connect remote sites back
to headquarters.
FPO?
A Stratos White Paper
12
* Exlenslve Experlence. To date, Stratos has deployed more than 10,000 SCADA terminals
across North America alone. These installations are mostly VSAT, but include a growing
number ol BGAM ond olher SCADA opllons. Ve hrsl lnlroduced our BGAMbosed SCADA
servlce ln 200P. Ve olso supporl more lhon 12,000 BGAM lermlnols ln over 200 counlrles
for a wide range of applications across many industries.
4. Value-added Services and Turnkey Solutions
In evaluating remote communications suppliers, it is important to nd out if they can provide
a complete turnkey solution, and whether or not they offer value-added services beyond the
basics. Anyone can resell a satellite terminal. In the oil and gas industry, however, many
operators need more than a piece of hardware or a number to call when problems occur.
They are looking for ways to accelerate deployment, optimize efciency, manage costs, and
access SCADA information with ease.
* Cne Slop Shop. In addition to technical training, support and our global network
infrastructure, Stratos offers fully integrated SCADA solutions that include licensing, network
engineering, installation, RTU integration, power requirements, airtime, and even a web-
based SCADA polling system. We deliver end-to-end SCADA solutions, not just components.
This saves operators and oileld service providers from having to negotiate with multiple
suppliers.
* SCADA Polllng Solullon. Stratos is the only remote communications provider in the world
that has developed its own all-in-one SCADA polling system, primarily for smaller operators
that do not have their own SCADA system. Offered on a subscription basis, the StratosiWare
servlce polls o cuslomers remole held devlces over ony communlcollon nelwork lhol hos on lP
addressnot just satellite, but phone, radio or cellular too. It transmits SCADA data securely
over the StratosNexus network infrastructure, and presents data online to authorized users
who can log in anywhere in the world. In addition, it allows operators to set up automatic
alerts that notify them when conditions in the eld deviate from predetermined limits.
* VolueAdded Servlces. StratosiWare is a unique value-added service from Stratos that
elevates our SCADA solutions above the usual baseline. Other value-added services include:
(1) Stratos Dashboard, which enables fast and easy provisioning of certain SCADA terminals,
as wells as daily, weekly or monthly usage monitoring and cost controls; (2) Stratos Trench,
which provides a highly customizable rewall, and indicates whether a SCADA site is online
or not; (3) Stratos BusinessAccess, a dedicated lease line from the Stratos network back to
the operators headquarters; and (4) Stratos Remote IP, a new service that enables operators
to manage and control certain SCADA terminals remotely, including turning them on or off,
troubleshooting and remote diagnostics, uploading rmware, monitoring signal strength, and
so on.
Anyone can resell
a satellite terminal.
In the oil and gas
industry, however,
many operators need
more than a piece
of hardware or a
number to call when
problems occur.
They are looking for
ways to accelerate
deployment, optimize
efciency, manage
costs, and access
SCADA information
with ease.
Stratos is the only remote
communications provider
in the world with its
own all-in-one SCADA
polling solution, known
as StratosiWare.
FPO?
A Stratos White Paper
13
SATELLITE SCADA SOLUTIONS IN ACTION
To illustrate the real-world value and benets of both Ku-band and L-band satellite SCADA
solutions, we offer the following short case studies:
Hybrid VSAT/Radio network with SCADA polling service
A small, privately owned producer of natural gas in the United States had acquired 130 wells
that required SCADA monitoring. The operator needed to monitor 130 remote measurement
units, poll the devices hourly, and alert personnel if anything went wrong. Originally, the
company intended to approach several hardware, software and communication providers
to cobble together a SCADA solution on its own. Stratos proposed a less risky, end-to-end
solution for a lower total investment.
* Problem. The company lacked SCADA expertise in-house, and faced a steep learning
curve. In addition, since it had no SCADA hosting software, server, or trained users, the
operator would have to invest considerable sums of money to provide its own SCADA
service. Estimated costs for the application and server alone were between $40,000 and
$70,000 USD. In addition, there would be annual personnel costs to hire and train one or
two technicians to install, congure, operate and monitor the system.
* Solullon. Stratos engineered a hybrid SCADA communications solution linking a single
VSAl onlenno wllh lhree exlsllng rodlo lowers ln lhe held, whlch creoled o relloble lP
network. The StratosiWare subscription SCADA service polled all 130 remote monitoring
devices every hour via the secure StratosNexus infrastructure, automatically sending alarms
and presenting gas well SCADA information to the operator over the web.
* Resulls. By adopting this unique subscription SCADA service, the company did not have to
invest in a SCADA system of its own or hire additional staff. As a result, this small operator
realized savings of roughly $40,000 and $140,000 USD per year, while ensuring secure,
timely access to critical data from its remote natural gas assets.
Worlds First Large-Scale SCADA Network Based on BGAN
A mo|or ollheld servlce compony provldes eleclrlc submerslble pumps [ESPs| lo operolors
of hundreds of producing wells worldwide, many of which are located in remote areas and
harsh environmentsoffshore, deserts, mountains, and jungles. The company needed to nd
a new, global satellite SCADA communication solution to replace an aging, relatively low-
speed, mobile packet data service, which was being discontinued.
* Problem. Based on data requirements for remote monitoring and control, this company
needed o solelllle solullon copoble ol lronsmllllng severol MB per ESP per monlh lrom
anywhere in the world. Low-end systems such as Iridium lacked sufcient capacity, and
A U.S. natural gas
producer linked 130 wells
via 3 radio towers to a
single VSAT antenna, with
StratosiWare to poll the
remote RTUs. This hybrid
solution saves the operator
tens of thousands of
dollars every year.
FPO?
A Stratos White Paper
14
high-end VSAT systems could not provide seamless global coverage. In addition, the
organizations eld technicians did not have the technical skills and training to install,
conhgure ond lnlegrole VSAl nelworks. lhe compony pul oul o Requesl For Proposol
and Stratos, Zedi (a Stratos channel partner), and AddValue (a leading satellite terminal
manufacturer) won the contract.
* Solullon. lnmorsols BGAM nelwork wos chosen lo succeed lhe exlsllng pockel dolo
service, since it could deliver up to 10 MB/month worldwide. Zedi provided the SCADA
hosting system, which conveniently presents pump data to users online. Stratos provided
secure, globol lP nelwork connecllvlly lhrough SlolosMexus, olrllme, ond crlllcol volueodded
servlces. Also, slnce no exlsllng BGAM lermlnols hod been deslgned speclhcolly lor hxed
SCADA applications, Stratos, AddValue and the customer teamed up to develop, test and
deploy o compocl, hllorpurpose lermlnollhe BGAM SABRE Rongerwhlch ls bolh eosy lo
install and operates reliably under extreme weather conditions.
* Resulls. This major oileld service company has begun rolling out the worlds largest,
mosl comprehenslve BGAM SCADA nelwork lo dole, enobllng lls personnel lo remolely
monllor, conlrol ond opllmlze ESP operollng poromelers. Stratos Dashboard allows them to
eoslly provlslon BGAM lermlnols os new wells come onllne, monllor dolo lrolhc ond conlrol
monthly usage costs. With Stratos Trench, lhey con see ll o porllculor BGAM lermlnol ls
transmitting or not, when the last transaction occurred, and other remote diagnostic criteria.
Stratos BusinessAccess provides secure private network delivery of SCADA information to the
customers internal corporate environment. Since Stratos enables customers to use a single
lP oddress worldwlde, lhe servlce compony con conhgure oll ol lls BGAM lermlnols ln one
central location, and ship and move them wherever needed without going to the trouble of
customizing each one for each country or region.
lhe scope ond lechnlcol complexlly ol lhls pro|ecl ellecllvely volldoled BGAM os o vloble,
mainstream solution for global SCADA applications. As a result, more oil and gas
operolors ond smoller ollheld servlce provlders ore lurnlng lo BGAM lor hllorpurpose
SCADA solutions.
EMERGING SCADA NEEDS AND FUTURE DIRECTIONS
While oil and gas companies today have several SCADA communication alternatives to
choose from, modern satellite solutions offer highly reliable networks ideal for SCADA
applications in remote areas where terrestrial and cellular options are unreliable, insufciently
secure, logistically difcult to deploy, cost prohibitive or simply non-existent. Satellite solutions
can reach anywhere.
A major oileld
service company
adopted Inmarsats
BGAN network,
the BGAN SABRE
Ranger terminal,
Zedis SCADA hosting
system, and Stratos
airtime and secure
global IP network
connectivity to
monitor and control
hundreds of electric
submersible pumps
(ESPs) in remote areas
worldwide.
FPO?
A Stratos White Paper
15
Many current and emerging SCADA applications in oil and gas require increasing levels
of performance to ensure success. In addition to remotely monitoring pumps and pipelines,
for example, service companies are considering SCADA to monitor and control downhole
completions and other oileld technologies. In addition to reneries, other segments of
the industry are seeking greater site security by installing and controlling remote video
surveillance cameras, which require higher bandwidth communications.
Much of the projected growth in satellite SCADA solutions is expected to take place in the
Lbond morkel, porlly due lo lhe globol reoch ol BGAM, olher lnmorsol ond lrldlum servlces.
However, lnmorsol olso plons lo deploy Globol /press, lhe hrsl lruly globol VSAl servlce ln
the near future. Inevitably, the number and variety of cost-effective satellite SCADA solutions
available to oil and gas operators will continue to grow.