Secure automation for cloud-based well head monitoring and control.

Temblor Petroleum is implementing Bedrock® Open Secure Automation (OSA®) for a unique cloud-based well head control and data-sharing application. The application enables Temblor to monitor and operate well heads remotely, providing secure real-time production data while minimizing the requirements for onsite operators.

“We really wanted to optimize technology to impact our operations, field surveillance and have real-time data. This system has allowed us to achieve that from any location, office or field with access to the internet,” said Temblor President Mike Thorsen.

Bedrock Open Secure Automation provides the control infrastructure that is now automating operation of two well heads but will also scale to operate more wells in the future. It controls tank levels, pumps, compressors, separators, duct valves and other devices, and is cyber hardened by the Bedrock Cybershield security designed into to its electronics.

In addition to Bedrock OSA technology, the project involves communications technology and system design services from Bakersfield, California-based Tyrion Integration. Tyrion is providing the cloud connectivity that enables sharing of the data collected from the Bedrock controls across Tyrion’s Nucleus communication gateway. This enables operators to monitor trending, alarming and analysis in the cloud. It receives operating data from a Bedrock OPC UA server via Ethernet and communicates it to a cloud-based infrastructure via cellular and message queuing telemetry transport (MQTT).

“We browse field operating data through OPC UA and then expose it to the cloud. The Bedrock secure IEC 61131-compliant IDE enables us to take advantage of the advanced encryption and authentication options of OPC UA. We use the Bedrock IDE to set data tags to control access with encryption and authentication handshakes so seamlessly that users don’t even realize that they are engaging in such deep cyber security protection,” said Mark Goehring, owner of Tyrion Integration.

Goerhing estimates that implementing the system using Bedrock Open Secure Automation saved 50% over any alternative approach, while also setting Temblor up for continued life cycle cost savings, operational effectiveness, and improved service to clients.

• Read the case study: Simple, Scalable and Secure, Well-Head Monitoring and Control (pdf)

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