Specialists of Tatneft and the APCS Center of Processingovy Tsentr LLC conducted tests of ROSSMA switching-measuring devices of domestic production. This autonomous and energy-independent equipment allows transmitting information about well operation to dispatch centers without human intervention. The economic effect per well is nearly 40 thousand rubles.

Wireless technology

A switching-measuring device for “Dry Contact” type signals was used to monitor the condition of well No. 2184, and an analog signal device was used on well No. 2620. Data from these facilities was transmitted via LoRaWAN wireless technology to the TatAISneft LLC base station and then via the corporate network to the APCS “MEGA” workstation.

The distance from the facilities to the base station was approximately 15 km, which is the maximum value for LoRaWAN data transmission. During the tests, ROSSMA switching-measuring devices fully confirmed their technical specifications. These devices can be effectively used for pressure monitoring at facilities and pipelines, remote control of electric drives and automation, and facility security.

The new technology has a number of advantages: it operates on an unlicensed radio frequency range from a self-powered modem, and has low power consumption. Well status data was transmitted based on changes in the contactor state, simulating voltage supply to the chain drive electric motor.

Solution at hand

The task of monitoring the condition of producing wells is particularly relevant. Their total number across Elkhovneft exceeds 800 units, and across the Company as a whole — over 9,000. The cost of telemetrization of one well using the basic solution with a “Standard” controller via FM channel is approximately 50 thousand rubles. Thus, across Tatneft as a whole, the basic option would require approximately 455 million rubles.

However, this solution has significant disadvantages, namely reduced response time to emergency situations, significant increase in operational costs, and serious dependence on the quality of related service organizations. For example, the contactor from which the signal is taken to the controller is located in a power cabinet serviced by contractor organizations. Numerous cases of signal wire breakage during equipment replacement or maintenance have been previously identified.

The solution was literally at hand. As is known, any modern smartphone is equipped with a gyroscope (tilt sensor). The module is a microscopic electronic board capable of calculating angular velocities, transmitting corresponding information as electrical signals, for example, for rotating the image on the screen. The dimensions of such a chip are just a few millimeters. Source.