The Digital Oilfield Has a Power Problem

Oil and gas operations are becoming more connected every year.

Remote wellsites, pipelines, compressor stations, and production facilities are increasingly relying on SCADA systems, sensors, communications equipment, monitoring devices, and automation to give operators better visibility and control.

That technology can make remote operations more efficient. But it also creates a basic challenge that is easy to overlook: How do you reliably power all of it?

For assets located miles from utility power, dependable electricity can become just as important as the technology itself.

More Technology Means More Demand for Remote Power

A remote site today may need to support much more than a single piece of equipment.

Operators may be powering:

• SCADA and telemetry systems

• Communications equipment

• Instrumentation and controls

• Remote monitoring stations

• Environmental and emissions monitoring

• Metering equipment

• Automation systems

• Pumps, valves, and other field devices

  
  

Many of these loads are relatively small, but they need to operate consistently.

If power is interrupted, operators may lose visibility into the site, receive incomplete data, lose communications, or need to send someone into the field to investigate.

When that location is several hours away, a relatively small power problem can quickly become an expensive one.

Remote Power Is About More Than Keeping the Lights On

At an accessible facility, generator maintenance may be relatively routine.

At a remote site, it is a different story.

Every maintenance visit can mean technician time, vehicle expenses, fuel, scheduling, and hours of travel. Harsh weather and difficult terrain can make those trips even more complicated.

That is why the total cost of remote power is not simply the cost of the generator.

Operators also have to consider:

How often will we need to service it?

How long will the equipment last?

How difficult is it to get fuel to the site?

What happens if the power source goes down?

How many truck rolls will this system require over its lifetime?

For remote operations, these questions can matter more than the initial purchase price.

The Best Remote Power System May Be the One You Rarely Have to Visit

Remote equipment should reduce the amount of attention a site requires, not create another maintenance burden.

That philosophy is what drove the development of EnduraGen from Axiom Energy Group.

EnduraGen is a 5 kW natural gas or propane generator engineered for remote applications where reliability, long operating life, and reduced maintenance are important.

It can operate continuously as a prime power source or cycle on and off depending on the needs of the application.

More importantly, it is designed to stay in the field.

EnduraGen offers:

• 6,000-hour maintenance intervals

• 40,000+ hour engine life

• Natural gas or propane operation

• Weatherproof construction

• Continuous or intermittent operation

• 5 kW power output

  
  

For operators managing dispersed assets, those longer maintenance intervals can translate directly into fewer service visits and less time spent traveling to remote locations.

Natural Gas Can Be an Advantage at the Wellsite

Fuel logistics are another major consideration for remote power. Diesel generators are common, but diesel requires storage, transportation, refueling, and ongoing fuel management.

At many oil and gas sites, natural gas may already be available. Using that existing fuel source to generate power can eliminate some of the logistical challenges associated with transporting diesel into remote areas.

Where natural gas is not available, EnduraGen can also operate on propane.

The goal is simple: provide operators with greater flexibility when determining how to power equipment in locations where traditional utility service may not make sense.

Powering the Infrastructure Behind Remote Operations

As oil and gas operations become more automated and connected, reliable remote power will only become more important. The technology may be sophisticated, but it still depends on something very basic: electricity.

SCADA systems need power.

Communication equipment needs power.

Sensors and instrumentation need power.

Remote monitoring needs power.

And if those systems are operating far from the grid, the power source needs to be designed for that environment. For operators managing dozens, hundreds, or even thousands of remote assets, reducing maintenance at each individual location can have a significant impact across the entire operation.

A Different Approach to Remote Power

EnduraGen was not designed to be another general-purpose standby generator.

It was designed around the challenges that come with powering remote equipment: difficult access, costly service visits, fuel logistics, long operating hours, and the need for dependable power.

As remote operations continue to become smarter, the power systems supporting them need to evolve too. Because adding more technology to a remote site only works when you can keep that technology running.

Looking for a more dependable way to power remote equipment?

Learn more about EnduraGen or contact Axiom Energy Group to discuss your remote power application.