While asset downtime and production rate inefficiency can lead to negative business outcomes, threats to worker health and safety put a lot more on the line. Employees are an invaluable resource to a company - an injury in the field or a physical ailment caused by environmental factors can shake the foundations of a business, not to mention a decline in employee morale and productivity.
The key to minimizing the chance of a threat to employee health and safety is to have tools in place that allow you to minimize your employees' risk of exposure. In the case of the Oil & Gas industry, field teams spend countless hours going to and from sites, sometimes to find out that the site visit was unnecessary because production is working at its highest efficiency. Having your assets hooked up to remote monitoring systems gives you real-time data on your assets production levels and allows you to limit physical exposure to production sites and in the case of a global pandemic, avoiding close proximity to co-workers in a factory. Often times, manufacturers will force those employees back into a facility because they do not have those automation technologies in place or may cut production which is what we are witnessing today with the COVID-19.
Most high production zones sit in remote locations that often require workers to travel long distances to maintain. Many familiar with the space call this windshield time. The hours spent driving on congested highways puts workers in front of challenging driving conditions that can lead to unexpected accidents or deviations from their destination.
It’s also no secret that oil production sites are commonly located in harsh environmental conditions. In addition to unpredictable weather patterns, high oil production zones are accompanied by large amounts of natural gas emissions. Too much exposure in these environments can increase the chances of both injuries and short-term/long-term health complications for workers.
Advantages of Remote Monitoring
Field teams that have real-time data pulling from their assets allows them to remotely monitor production levels, initiate remote controls and make smart decisions on which sites need physical attention, and which sites are working efficiently. This minimizes windshield time and ensures trips to sites are taken only when necessary.
To learn more about how WellAware helps companies manage their assets, sign up for our upcoming webinar, "Remote Asset Management in 2020."
It’s important, however, to identify what data points you need to monitor, and the details around reporting. Remote monitoring systems pull massive quantities of high-quality data points from assets. Without knowing how to extract meaningful data, however, you’re system may become too complex and ineffective.
If you’re looking to learn more about remote monitoring systems, or are evaluating your current system, here are a few resources to help guide your decision making.
