At Honeywell Users Group (HUG) 2023 in Florida, Honeywell unveiled its Upstream Production Performance Suite, designed to enhance oil and gas operations. This new end-to-end suite integrates automation, sensing, analytics, and IIoT technologies to optimize production, reduce operating costs, and enhance asset reliability. With intelligent controls and predictive analysis packaged as an integrated solution, Honeywell’s Upstream Production Performance Suite aims to be a game-changer for the company’s upstream customers.
How do you get real-time insights cost-effectively from your oil and gas wells when they are located miles away from your facility or in remote areas? This geographical dispersion poses a significant obstacle in terms of efficiently gathering and optimizing data from these wells and is a key problem for upstream customers. Honeywell’s new Upstream Production Performance Suite aims to address and resolve this challenge. By implementing this suite, customers can overcome the hurdles associated with remote well monitoring and gain valuable real-time insights to effectively optimize their operations.
End-to-End Automation and Digitalization
The core objective behind the solution was to focus on key parameters within the realm of automation. Honeywell’s expertise in controls, sensing, and automation enabled them to deliver efficient solutions in these areas. But they didn’t stop there. They also incorporated advanced analytics and intelligent IIoT sensors into field operations to empower customers with the tools and insights necessary to achieve optimal production.
In an interview with DirectIndustry, Nisha Lathif, general manager for the upstream oil and gas division at Honeywell, explained,
“This solution is not merely a standalone product but a comprehensive offering that encompasses diverse components, each playing a crucial role in optimizing production performance. The key benefits are improving production by 2 to 4%, reducing operating expenses (OpEx) by 10%, and minimizing downtime, which are the three most crucial parameters for upstream customers operating in remote and dispersed locations.”
The Upstream Production Performance Suite spans the entire production lifecycle, from the wellhead to the control room. This end-to-end approach streamlines operations and assures more efficient workflow. By automating and digitizing wells, oil and gas gathering, and processing facilities, the suite minimizes unplanned downtime and enables a path to autonomous operation.
Honeywell’s new solution is offered in three tiers—Lite, Supreme, and Ultimate—each tailored to meet specific customer requirements.
– Lite Tier is the entry-level option that provides basic sensing and monitoring capabilities using Honeywell Versatilis™ sensors and software.
– Supreme Tier is the standard solution that includes process enhancement features such as a control and safety system, advanced process control, and asset performance monitoring.
– Ultimate Tier offers the most comprehensive solution, incorporating visual analytics, cyber and network security, partner solutions, asset performance monitoring simulation, etc.
While the Upstream Production Performance Suite utilizes artificial intelligence to some extent, it primarily focuses on predictive analysis rather than reactive measures. By analyzing data trends, forecasting potential issues, and suggesting optimization strategies, the suite enables operators to proactively address maintenance requirements and improve overall performance.
In the Cloud
For controls and sensing, most oil and gas customers have deployed on-premise or virtualized environments in data centers. For digital software solutions, the Upstream Production Performance Suite primarily utilizes Honeywell’s cloud infrastructure. However, the company recognizes the growing trend of customer-specific clouds and aims to align with customer preferences in the future, said Mrs. Lathif.
“We need to consider specific cybersecurity policies before deploying it on customer premises. However, it is possible that in the future, we will move towards customers having their own cloud and deployment infrastructure. This is a direction we aim to pursue.”
