Hess Corporation, a global independent energy company engaged in the exploration and production of crude oil and natural gas, has selected Redline Communications (News - Alert) , a provider of mission-critical wireless networks for the oil and gas industry, for wireless networks in Bakken digital oil fields.
As part of the agreement, Redline is providing complete turnkey installations of wireless digital oilfield networks, including engineering services for developing network designs optimized for the complex Bakken topography.
"Redline customers universally tell us that having the right network in place is key to creating the kinds of operational efficiencies that lead to increased production," said Robert Williams (News - Alert), chief executive officer at Redline, in a statement.
Williams said that the Hess vision for its digital oilfield is inspiring and will put them at the leading edge of the industry, and Redline is very pleased to be selected as a key technology partner.
Thanks to this new private high-speed wireless network infrastructure, hundreds of vehicles, buildings, drilling rigs, pumps, oil facilities and other assets owned or managed by Hess will now be connected via Redline's Virtual Fiber technology, creating a unified Digital Oil Field spanning approximately 6400 square miles across its first five focus areas.
Officials with Redline Communications said that extensive amounts of data will flow from monitoring equipment and video cameras in the field into a centralized location where it will be analyzed in near real-time.
Hess with the help of this network will be able to have visibility into remote operations, and will be able to use sophisticated data analysis techniques to identify what parts of the operation require attention, only then dispatching the appropriate personnel to take action.
Company officials pointed out that as part of the pact, Redline will also develop the network architecture and design for Hess's Bakken operation. Redline will deploy the first five focus areas in 2014, with an end-to-end solution that includes Redline hardware and software, plus professional services for network design, planning, construction, project management, installation, delivery and support.
Similar networks are likely to be deployed in five additional areas in 2015.
Edited by Maurice Nagle