Wireless excellence in automation.

TotalEnergies EP Ratawi Hub has won the 2024-25 ISA100 Wireless Excellence in Automation award. The award was presented at the 2025 ISA Automation Summit & Expo held recently Florida (USA).

The Ratawi Hub project in Iraq represents a significant advancement in the implementation of safety-critical wireless gas detection systems amidst severe constraints. TotalEnergies encountered environmental hazards and legacy risks, including unexploded ordnance (UXO), which rendered traditional trenching for cables infeasible. Consequently, a fully wireless ISA100 solution was deployed, incorporating hydrocarbon and toxic gas detectors, wireless sounders and beacons, along with a standalone Dräger controller engineered for future integration into the site's Siemens SCADA system. The furthest detector from the control room was over 500 meters away, but it proved to be straightforward for the WCI technology and the Dräger team.

The project demonstrates that ISA100 wireless technology, combined with Safety Integrity Level 2 (SIL2)-capable devices, can deliver robust safety performance while decreasing installation time, risk and expense. Full SIL2 verification may be conducted subsequently if deemed necessary by operations. The Ratawi installation shortened the anticipated commissioning period from eight weeks to 10 days, reduced site exposure by 60% and attained deterministic alarm transmission with latency of less than two seconds across a 500-meter mesh network.

ISA100 Wireless is an international, standards-based technology that delivers reliable, secure and interoperable networks for industrial environments. Each year, the ISA100 Wireless Compliance Institute presents the ISA100 Wireless Excellence in Automation Award to a global end user company that has demonstrated outstanding leadership and innovation with ISA100 Wireless technology. TotalEnergies EP Ratawi Hub joins a distinguished list of end users who have received this award over the past 12 years.

“I am pleased to accept this award on behalf of TotalEnergies EP Ratawi Hub,” said Adne Baer-Olsen from Dräger. “A big thank you to TotalEnergies for keeping an open mind in the solution of their challenge. I also appreciate the efforts by ISA100 WCI for developing the ISA100 protocol with built-in capabilities of cybersecurity and functional safety. Dräger educated the site team on our extensive experience of wireless to allow for an exemption to use wireless for safety. Together, TotalEnergies and Dräger came up with the installation plan. We installed the system in 10 days, and the system has met the needs and is working very well.”

TotalEnergies, as one of the world’s largest energy corporations, establishes stringent safety system requirements. ISA100 Wireless (ANSI/ISA-100.11a and IEC 62734) is an open standard based on IPv6 that offers secure, low-latency, self-healing mesh networks specifically designed for monitoring and safety-critical applications. Devices that are certified in conjunction with ISA100's 128-bit Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) enable a robust integration of speed, reliability and cyber resilience to protect personnel, equipment and the environment.

For Ratawi, response time, reliability and maintainability were key. Since wireless technology had not previously been employed for this application, the TotalEnergies team dedicated considerable time to assess the Dräger ISA100 solution. Following a thorough evaluation, the system was verified to meet the requisite safety standards, response time and functionality.

This project was undertaken through a tripartite collaboration with the TotalEnergies EP Ratawi Operations Team, Dräger experts and local Iraqi distributor Al Usol, making use of both global expertise and local knowledge.

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@TotalEnergies @ISA_Automation @automation_com #PAuto #Wireless

Whole wireless gas detection system.

The ProSafe-RS® SIL2 wireless gas detection system is to be released by Yokogawa in September. Established by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), a safety integrity level (SIL) indicates the relative level of risk provided by a safety function. SILs 1 through 4 are defined by IEC 61508. At SIL2, the risk factor for a plant where safety measures are not in place is in a range between 1/100 and 1/1,000. At SIL3, the risk factor is in a range between 1/1,000 and 1/10,000.

The ProSafe-RS SIL2 wireless gas detection system will consist of a newly enhanced version of the Yokogawa ProSafe-RS SIL3 safety instrumented system (R4.03.10), their field wireless network devices, annunciator panels, and subsidiary of the German company Drägerwerk AG & Co., GasSecure, wireless gas detectors GS01 or the GS01-EA which is equipped with an extension antenna.

Thus Yokogawa is to establish a total solution that will include both consulting and engineering.

Development Background
In energy and basic materials industries such as oil & gas, petrochemicals and chemicals, a safety instrumented system is employed to safely initiate an emergency plant shutdown when a critical failure is detected, and to initiate the operation of facilities that can extinguish or prevent the spread of a fire.

A field wireless system consists of field devices that are able to communicate wirelessly with a monitoring and control system. Wireless devices have a number of advantages such as allowing installation in difficult-to-access locations and the reduction of installation costs, and they are increasingly seen as essential elements in plant safety solutions. This is a particularly important consideration with gas detection systems, as operation can easily be impacted by factors such as installation location and ambient conditions. And even after system installation, ongoing efforts to optimise its overall configuration may necessitate occasional changes in the location and number of detection devices. The use of wireless technology eliminates the need to worry about wiring and thus greatly facilitates the process of moving and/or installing additional detection devices.

To achieve SIL2 level risk reduction when using wireless gas detectors with a safety instrumented system, communication protocols that comply with the functional safety requirements specified in the IEC 61508 international standard are required. A standard for the functional safety of electrical/electronic/programmable safety-related systems. To meet this need, Yokogawa will provide a SIL2 wireless gas detection system based on a new version of the ProSafe-RS safety instrumented system that will link to field devices using an IEC 61508 compliant communication protocol.

Features of the System

The ProSafe-RS SIL2 wireless gas detection system will consist of a new version of the ProSafe-RS safety instrumented system, R4.03.10, that will be enhanced to add support for an IEC 61508 compliant safety communication technology used in distributed automation; annunciator panels; ISA100 Wireless compliant field wireless devices; and GasSecure GS01 or GS01-EA wireless gas detectors, which are the only devices of this type in the industry that achieve SIL2 risk reduction. The ISA100 Wireless network protocol is based on the ISA100.11a wireless communication standard for industrial automation that was developed by the International Society of Automation (ISA), and the applications necessary for its implementation. This was approved as the IEC 62734 international standard in October 2014.

1. Total system solution including both consulting and engineering Through the use of wireless technology, the ProSafe-RS SIL2 wireless gas detection system will allow increased flexibility with the configuration of detection devices, and will be suitable for use as a fire & gas system and emergency shutdown system thanks to its achievement of SIL2 risk reduction. Based on its knowledge of each of this system’s components and its expertise in production control, safety instrumentation, and field wireless engineering and consulting, Yokogawa will be able to offer a total system solution that includes customer support. 

 2. Enhanced operating efficiency On their Yokogawa CENTUM® VP integrated production control system screens, operators will be able to easily monitor the operation of the ProSafe-RS SIL2 wireless gas detection system as well as that of any conventional wired gas detection system. Since the GasSecure GS01 or GS01-EA wireless gas detector uses the same faceplate as a wired gas detector, operators will have no trouble identifying any changes in the detector’s status, thus helping to prevent errors that can result from the misinterpretation of information. 

3. Improved maintenance With CENTUM® VP, operators will have on-screen access to information on the status of all network devices, the charge remaining on the gas detector batteries, and the status of wireless communications, and thus will be able to quickly detect and respond to any abnormality. Thanks to this functionality, more efficient maintenance plans can be drawn up that, for example, will require fewer periodic checks.

Released in February 2005, the ProSafe-RS safety instrumented system helps prevent accidents by detecting abnormal conditions in plant operations and initiating emergency actions such as a plant shutdown. An independent certification body has certified that ProSafe-RS can be used in SIL3 applications. Unlike conventional safety instrumented systems and distributed control systems, which are regarded as having different roles and functions and operate separately, the operation of ProSafe-RS and the CENTUM integrated control system can be fully integrated. ProSafe-RS is highly regarded by users and has been installed in more than 2,100 projects worldwide (as of June 2017).

Yokogawa’s Commitment to the Field Wireless Business
Yokogawa developed wireless communication technologies for continuous processes that necessitate advanced control and released the world’s first ISA100 Wireless system devices in July 2010, thereby offering its customers a wider range of products to choose from. Currently, Yokogawa offers its customers in the oil & gas, and other industries a wide range of field wireless management stations, field wireless access points, wireless field devices, and wireless adapters for conventional wired devices.

Major Target Markets and Applications
For use in fire and gas systems (FGS) and emergency shutdown systems (ESD) in process industries such as oil, natural gas, petrochemicals, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, electric power, and iron and steel.

@YokogawaIA  #PAuto @DraegerNews

Leader in medical and safety technology joins wireless group.

Dräger has joined the ISA100 Wireless Compliance Institute.

Dräger is an international leader in the fields of medical and safety technology. The safety product and service range covers systems for personal protection, gas detection technology and integrated hazard management. They serve companies in the chemical and petrochemical industries, mining and the public sector such as fire services, police and disaster protection.

The company’s portfolio includes stationary and mobile gas detection systems, personal protective equipment, professional diving gear, alcohol and drug testing devices, and a varied range of training and services, in addition to projects such as fire training systems and interchangeable special units for tunnel rescue trains.

“WCI welcomes Dräger to the ISA100 Wireless community,” remarked Andre Ristaino, ISA100 WCI managing director. “We look forward to working with Dräger to augment their impressive product portfolio with ISA100 Wireless capabilities."

“Choosing the ISA100 Wireless technology, Dräger is now able to bring its fixed gas detection to a new level by revisiting expensive installation paradigms. This enhancement has been possible while keeping the stringent safety standards of Dräger, a property that was only possible thanks to the flexibility of the ISA100 Wireless communication protocol,” says Bernhard Mohr from Dräger Safety AG & Co. KGaA.

“By joining the ISA100 Wireless Compliance Institute and helping to promote this technology worldwide, Dräger can accelerate the adoption of ISA100 Wireless for existing or new markets and also benefits from a great visibility.”

@ISA100WCI @DraegerNews  #PAuto

SIL2-certified wireless gas detection system for LNG facility!

Yokogawa and GasSecure AS, a Dräger owned company, announce the delivery of the world’s first SIL2-certified wireless gas detection system for use at an LNG facility in Northern Europe. On this date, the two companies will begin promoting the unique capabilities of this system solution to companies that have a strong interest in maintaining safe and secure operations.

Background
Yokogawa has been developing a wide variety of ISA100 Wireless technologies and field wireless devices such as adapters that enable conventional wired devices to access wireless networks, and provides them to plants and other facilities primarily in the upstream oil and gas sector. GasSecure has developed ISA100 wireless gas detectors that can detect leaks of explosive hydrocarbon gases and are certified for compliance with the ATEX directive and the IECEx Certified Equipment Scheme, and installs them on offshore oil and gas drilling platforms and at tank farms, industrial plants, and the like. GasSecure has already supplied a number of these products to leading oil and gas companies around the world.

In 2014, GasSecure and Yokogawa concluded an agreement under which the two companies jointly developed a wireless gas detection system that would meet their customers’ requirements.

Overview of the system
This system uses GasSecure’s GS01 wireless gas detectors to measure hydrocarbon gas concentrations. Using the ISA100 Wireless communications protocol, the GS01 establishes a link with a Yokogawa YFGW510 access point and sends data to a host system via a Yokogawa YFGW410 field wireless management station. Although the GS01 uses a low-power infrared sensor and is very energy efficient, it has a very fast response time. This capability of the GS01 and the utilisation of dual redundant communications by Yokogawa’s field wireless products make them essential components for the construction of a fast and highly reliable monitoring solution.

To meet its customers’ safety requirements, GasSecure has made enhancements to the GS01 to obtain SIL2 certification for this device. For its part, Yokogawa has modified the YFGW410 so that it now supports the PROFIsafe safety communication standard, and has verified that both companies’ products perform and operate as specified.

Future direction
In the oil & gas, chemical, and other industries, safety is a paramount concern at production, storage, and processing sites. Field wireless systems can be installed in difficult-to-wire locations and have lower cabling costs than wired systems. For these reasons, field wireless solutions are ideal for systems that collect production information such as flow rate, pressure, and temperature. And unlike other wireless technology platforms, they can be used to construct systems that perform gas detection and other safety functions, and are well suited to this purpose. With the release of SIL2-certified wireless gas detection systems, Yokogawa will actively promote its field wireless equipment and systems, and will expand this business.