Understand how this factor can guarantee the necessary competitiveness in a market as critical and demanding as Oil & Gas
The Oil & Gas sector represents an important pillar of economic growth and recovery in Brazil and worldwide. According to reports from the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), world demand is expected to increase to 3,36 million barrels per day by the end of this year, resulting in a significant recovery from the sector's slump in 2020.
Even with this positive impact on the sector, the scarcity of these natural resources required extraction in increasingly remote and dangerous locations, making it even more challenging to maintain the safety of the teams in the operation. This more demanding movement in search of extraction and production calls for more and more technology for its viability. It takes a lot of technology – from resources to increase productivity/efficiency to solutions to take care of the safety of professionals who are exposed to extreme temperatures and adverse conditions.
The secret is in integrated solutions
Basically, for what is one of the most challenging jobs in the world to overcome security issues, all T in Oil & Gas must be evaluated and conceived as an integrated solution, to improve collaboration between departments, regardless of the segment in which they are located: upstream (exploration, discovery and production), mid-stream (transport) or downstream (distribution).
Communication and video technologies are some that can significantly support this sector. A digital platform for oil that enables clear and long-range communication, can reduce accidents and response times to potential problems. The solutions of video security with self-learning advanced analytics and access control alerts let you detect risks so professionals can feel safer in their area. For example, in the control center, where video management software is used, it is possible to monitor several remote locations with low bandwidth consumption and without losing the quality of scene details, thanks to the resolution of the explosion-proof cameras that operate safely in high-risk areas.
In installations with connectivity capabilities via Bluetooth and GPS, for example, it is possible to send alarms to the right people during emergencies and create alerts when a professional is inactive for a certain period. It is also possible to configure the geofencing in high-risk areas to send notifications to the plant when professionals are in the area, to keep an eye out for them and recognize people of interest.
Os radios bidirectional are also suitable for this type of environment. Professionals can share voice and data with each other for real-time collaboration and assistance if a mishap or incident occurs. These radios must have the ability to further reduce background noise, ensuring that the message reaches the recipient clearly and quickly. In addition to eliminating noise, radios and accessories need to be specially designed to withstand fire, water and heavy drops or knocks, for example.
With the adoption of communication technologies and connectivity resources, it is possible to record events in voice and audio to provide evidence of what happens in all work areas during working hours and respond immediately – in cases of non-scheduled events. The ability to record and manage incidents gives professionals and the entire organization more security.
Safety and productivity are deeply intertwined. Certainly, companies that can rely on unified communications systems, in addition to security, voice, video and data resources, will be able to minimize downtime, improve efficiency and generate better results in all segments of the industry – ensuring the necessary competitiveness in such a critical and demanding market.
(*) By Dario Mojica, business communications specialist at Motorola Solutions
