Offshore

Offshore gas and oil operators use mobile technologies like LTE for monitoring components on rigs and communications with the shore. Establishing and maintaining communication links in the face of extreme weather conditions can be a challenge. Commonly, satellite or fibre optic links are used, but more often mobile technologies are replacing rig to shore communication links.

In an environment where safety is critical, any restrictions with bandwidth, or delays often characteristic with satellite services, are not viable. LTE enable rigs, shore bases and support vessels to share information in real-time. Similarly, demands for data on the platforms is growing, with the need for indoor coverage like WiFi and a robust network to manage monitoring and telemetry systems.

HTZ Communications offers dedicated features to manage offshore communications, including:

• Modelling features – to model the radio systems, backhaul and microwave point-to-point links;
• Automated coverage planning – to understand where to place base stations for the optimal coverage and to identify areas without coverage on the rig;
• Automated frequency assignment – to limit interference and achieve robust communications;
• DL and UL throughputs maps – to check where the traffic data is large enough and where more sites would be required;
• Modelling capability – to model the best antenna heights above sea level;
• Design support – for the rollout of broadband access networks to support offshore platforms, support vessels and fixed assets.