Woods Hole Group, Inc. Oceanography and Measurement Systems Division INTEGRATED REAL-TIME MONITORING SYSTEM

Transcription

1 Woods Hole Group, Inc. INTEGRATED REAL-TIME MONITORING SYSTEM Woods Hole Group, Inc. (WHG) has developed the Integrated Real-time Monitoring System (IRMS) as a general-purpose data acquisition and telemetry system. IRMS is the third generation of data acquisition software developed by Woods Hole Group. IRMS is a modular and configurable system architecture and software package that forms the basis for most of Woods Hole Group s data acquisition systems. Versions of IRMS have been used on a variety of systems of widely varying complexity. IRMS can be applied to large multi-platform oil industry offshore oil and gas production facilities, with many different sensors and data inputs. IRMS can also be used for simpler systems, consisting of one or more sensors and a single data acquisition computer. IRMS is the basis of several of Woods Hole Group s real-time port and harbor monitoring systems. It also is used for the National Marine Fisheries Service Survey Sensor Package, an instrumentation system installed on clam dredges. In its most general configuration, the IRMS (Figure 1) is a distributed data acquisition and display system, consisting of multiple PCs that receive data from primary sources, and communicate among themselves over a client-supplied (or private) Local Area Network (LAN) to provide a variety of data presentations at many locations. The IRMS is a fully distributed, decentralized, flexible and expandable information management system. The IRMS is a monitoring system, not a control system. For environmental sensors, such as ADCPs, IRMS provides a complete control and communication system. It can also receive data from client-specified primary data sources (such as a riser tension sensing system), but otherwise does not interact with these sources. Therefore, the IRMS can be incorporated into existing or new oilfield production systems with minimal design and integration effort. General Configuration Multiple Stations An offshore production facility typically consists of a complex of floating units, involving a production platform (a Tension Leg Platform, for example), a Floating Production (and Storage) Unit, and a Drilling Tender Barge (DTB). Using the IRMS, data originating from a wide variety of different sensors throughout the production complex can be seen by multiple users on integrated data display screens that are located where the information is needed. On a typical 3-unit production facility, the system would consist of 3 primary IRMS PCs, which are located on the TLP, the drilling tender barge (DTB), and the Floating Production Unit (FPU). These PCs are dedicated to the IRMS and are not used as general workstations. Other client-supplied PCs on the LAN may be operated as IRMS display stations, each PC receiving data over the LAN and producing its own displays. These other PCs may be dedicated to IRMS displays, or the IRMS software may be run on general workstations that are used for other functions as well.

2 Page 2 of 10 Typical Uses of IRMS Real-Time Data IRMS is a real-time data acquisition, storage, display, and telemetry system. Data collected by IRMS is often used in post-processing for structural analysis and other engineering purposes. The information may also be used in real time for operational purposes. Some uses of the IRMS real-time data on a production platform include: Drillers working in the dog house on the TLP can see a display showing anchor line tensions from all the floating units, as well as position and heading of the TLP. The Company Man working in his office on the DTB can observe the position and orientation of both the TLP and FPU simultaneously, as well as the anchor line tensions. The TLP Control Room operator can visualize the buoyancy of the ballast tanks, and readily see how to alter the water level in the tanks to compensate for the net riser tension, while maintaining constant tendon tension. Data Sources IRMS can acquire data from virtually any source. This can include sensors supplied by WHG, or any existing or new client-supplied sensing subsystems. For example, data types integrated by the IRMS for a deep-water production facility, such as a TLP, may include: Environmental data, such as Acoustic Doppler Current Profilers, wind speed and direction sensors, air temperature and pressure sensors, and/or wave sensors. Tendon tension. Riser tension. Ballast tank loading and net buoyancy. Anchor line tension and line payout from the drilling tender, the TLP, and/or the floating production unit, as appropriate. Position and heading of one or more of the floating units, and offset from a reference position on the seafloor. Riser stress and vibration data Inputs To obtain these data, the IRMS can be interfaced to virtually an unlimited range of input devices and communication protocols, including: Any type of serial data port, including USB Ethernet Profibus ControlNet (Rockwell Rslinx) Analog voltages, current, or frequency Calculations In addition to processing and displaying raw data, the IRMS can calculate secondary parameters. IRMS software processing modules cover all standard environmental sensors, such as ADCPs, wave sensors, and meteorological sensors. In addition, software modules have been developed for certain other calculations, such as the magnitude and location of the center of effort of the downward force of the risers, tendons, or ballast tanks. New software modules can easily be developed to handle the data from any input port, and to combine data from multiple separate input ports. IRMS can also interface to other software processing packages, such as RDI s WavesMon and Nortek s directional wave calculation packages, which compute wave spectra from raw wave and current data. IRMS collects and displays calculated results produced by these external programs, including wave spectra and parameters such as significant wave height, peak period, and peak direction. This capability permits the use of other software within the overall data acquisition and display framework of IRMS.

3 Page 3 of 10 Intra-PC Data Communication Each primary data source supplies data to one of the IRMS PCs, which collects the data and performs first-level processing. Data are then sent over the LAN in real time to all other PCs running the IRMS software, using a TCP/IP Datasocket mechanism. A screen display is available (Figure 2) which shows the actual communication on each port of the IRMS PC, including both the local data inputs from hard-wired sensors, and data coming from other IRMS PCs via the LAN. The result is that all of the IRMS-equipped PCs on the LAN receive all of the processed data, and the same suite of data displays are available on all PCs, regardless of where the data originated. The IRMS sends only data, not displays, to minimize network traffic and avoid consuming too much LAN bandwidth. Each IRMS PC utilizes the received data to create its own displays. The LAN may be restricted to a single physical facility (for example, an exploration rig), or it may extend across several adjacent facilities using Wide Area Network (WAN) technology, such as microwave or radio links. Live QA/QC Each IRMS PC provides first-level real-time automated QA/QC inspection and editing of processed data from selected sensors, such as ADCPs. For RD Instruments ADCPs, IRMS applies acceptance criteria based on the ADCP s QA parameters, such as: Vertical and Error Velocities Echo Amplitude Correlation Magnitude, and Percent Good Pings. Thresholds for these criteria can be set in the IRMS configuration files. In addition, selected bins or depth ranges can be automatically eliminated so the displays and alarm functions do not become confused by invalid data. Processed and QA d data in engineering units is stored on the IRMS PC(s). Raw data from the sensors is stored without editing or alteration, so the data can be reprocessed later if necessary. Data Storage The IRMS stores raw and processed data, as well as status logs and other diagnostic information, on multiple hard disk drives distributed across the system. This ensures redundant data storage and continued system operation in the event of failure of any individual PC, or network outage. Displays The IRMS software provides a suite of data displays, which are organized as a set of screens. The user can select any display screen from a pull down menu of available display screens. Displays are meant to be observed on highresolution graphic monitors, but versions of the software are available for lower resolution PCs, or those with less memory. Each IRMS screen consists of a set of display panels, arranged in a logical fashion. Because the screens and panels are composed of modular display elements, WHG can easily customize or expand the suite of IRMS displays to include new displays configured to meet facility-specific or client-specific requirements. IRMS displays are configured to serve a variety of users. Examples of some displays configured for an oil company client are shown in Figures 3-7. Specialized displays, such as a large-type display screen that is visible from a distance (Figure 7) can be provided. This type of display is also useful as an input to an oil rig s CCTV system, which makes the display available on TVs throughout the rig. Statistics and Alarms IRMS provides summary statistics of the data, as well as alarm and notification criteria for all types of data. Alarms are based on properties of the data, such as: Max/min range Rate of change No data received in a certain time interval Data unchanged in a certain time interval

4 Page 4 of 10 Alarm criteria are applied to first-level QA d data When an alarm condition occurs, an indicator becomes visible on the menu bar of the IRMS display, and the user can pull down the alarm summary screen (Figure 8) to determine the cause of the alarm. IRMS can also provide an audible alarm (beep) to alert client personnel. The IRMS alarm display is not intended to be a primary safety monitor for the oil platform; rather, it is a convenience feature to assist the user in determining that the sensors are operating correctly and avoid undertaking actions (such as increasing an anchor line tension) that might cause problems. The entire alarm board can be reset, individual alarms can be reset separately, or the thresholds can be adjusted for each variable. Remote Data Telemetry Given an Internet connection, IRMS offers several ways to transmit information to offsite locations, such as client offices worldwide, and WHG offices. First, IRMS may be used directly if the client s on-site LAN extends offsite back to a shore facility via satellite. A PC in the client office running the IRMS software can communicate directly with the IRMS PCs at the remote site, receiving all the data and creating its own displays. This long-range network capability enables IRMS displays to be seen in real time at the shore facility, or potentially anywhere in the world, on PCs running the IRMS software. This PC will archive the data automatically. Alternatively, IRMS can be accessed using a web browser (2006 upgrade). One IRMS PC on the remote site is designated as the web server. It collects all data from the other IRMS PCs and stores a subset of the data for live, realtime web access. Authorized users on PCs anywhere can see real-time displays similar to those seen on IRMS PCs on site. For comprehensive, automated near-real-time data transfer to off-site locations, such as client offices worldwide, IRMS is interfaced to a scheduled FTP file synchronization program, provides a very reliable method of transferring large amounts of data several times a day, without need for user intervention. FTP file synchronization is very fault-tolerant and works well with erratic or low-speed connections, and it ensures that data files at the offsite location(s) are exact duplicates of the data files on the IRMS system. Figure 1: Block diagram of the Woods Hole Group Integrated Real-time Monitoring System, as configured for an offshore production facility consisting of a Tension Leg Platform, a Drilling Tender Barge and a Floating Production Unit.

5 Page 5 of 10 Figure 2: IRMS Data Communication Screen showing Port windows and status log.

6 Page 6 of 10 Figure 3: Integrated display screen shows platform position and heading, together with anchor line tensions and current and wind vectors. Figure 4: Example IRMS Display Screen, showing an integrated display of tendon and riser tensions, as well as TLP offset and resultant vertical force due to riser and tendon tensions.

7 Page 7 of 10 Figure 5: Example IRMS Display Screen showing time history (trend) of anchor winch tension and payout from DTB and TLP mooring winches, together with current and TLP position offset data.

8 Page 8 of 10 Figure 6: Example IRMS Display screen showing current profiles and QA/QC data from an Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (Workhorse 300 khz ADCP) looking upward from a depth of about 200 ft, and a 75 khz ADCP looking downward, also showing QA data profiles for both instruments.

9 Page 9 of 10 Figure 7: Large-type display screen for easy viewing from a distance or on CCTV.

10 Page 10 of 10 Figure 8: IRMS Alarm Screen showing user selectable maximum and minimum threshold values for each parameter (simulated data). Alarm condition indicated in red.