Network Communications Solution for Oil and Gas

Pipelines

In recent years, oil and gas companies have accelerated the development of oil and gas pipelines. The previous chain pipeline
communications network has evolved into a ring network, but advantages of the network have not been fully leveraged. Many
problems remain unsolved: service scheduling is not flexible enough; the utilization rate of resources is low and network management
is difficult and costly. In addition, the current pipeline communications network is ineffectively protected, and the transmission of
important services is interrupted from time to time. These drawbacks have become a bottleneck in the IT-enabled development.
Furthermore, the current communications network can only be used for pipeline basic communications and automation due to its low
bandwidth. Such a network can hardly carry large-granule services for oil and gas companies that require IT-enabled development.

Huawei Solution

To address the problems above, Huawei has launched the Network Communications Solution for Oil and Gas Pipelines based on its
extensive analysis on the communications requirements of oil and gas companies for their long-distance pipelines and years of experience in
constructing communications networks. This solution incorporates a transmission network, a production network, and an office automation
network. The transmission network is a basic network carrying types of services regarding pipeline transportation and production. The
production network consists of routers and switches. It controls and transmits SCADA data about production sites in real time. It also carries
services like video surveillance and scheduling phone services. The office automation network is a comprehensive campus network. It
supports administrative office services in attended stations. It also serves as an output interface to transmit data to the WAN.

VSAT
Oil production
plant
Oil/Gas tank
Microwave
Valve station HQ

Compressor station Video surveillance

Patrolling
personnel
Control center
Production network

Surveillance Transmission network

Videoconferencing
Optical cable Scheduling equipment
VSAT phone
Office phone
FE Metering station
Office network

Customer Benefits

Multiple protection modes enable the reliable and prompt transmission of all important services, such as production data, control
signals, scheduling services, and surveillance images, to ensure production security.
Extra long-distance transmission requires fewer relay stations, thereby reducing network construction costs.
Multiple functions, such as unified network management, end-to-end visualized service management, intelligent alarm analysis, and
one-touch fault location, simplify O&M and save on O&M costs.
The solution is compatible with the live network in order to protect the previous investments of oil and gas companies. The network can smoothly
evolve to a higher version to fit in with the deeper IT-enabled development and more advanced services for oil and gas pipeline transportation.
 Solution Architecture

Local control center

BITS
Valve Valve Pigging Valve Valve station Valve station Valve station Valve station
station station station station Unattended stations
STM-1/4 ring network STM-1/4 SNCP ring network
Metering station
(entrance) Compressor station Compressor station

Backbone STM-16/64 1+1 MSP link

Carrier pipeline
Control network
PSTN Compressor station
center

Production network

Office Production network CCTV

automation Scheduling Tributary
network phone pipeline
VOICE VOICE
Industrial network STM-1/4
SNCP ring
switch Valve network
RTU station

Office Office Video Video Scheduling

automation phone conferencing surveillance phone Pigging station Valve station Valve station
network
Metering station (exit) Compressor station BITS STM-1/4 SNCP ring network
Distribution station

Metering station

The transmission network

consists of a backbone pipeline network and a tributary pipeline network. In the backbone pipeline network, MSTP/Hybrid-MSTP devices
are deployed at backbone nodes to form a 1+1 multiplex section protection (MSP) chain network. The network usually has a bandwidth
of 2.5G or 10G. At unattended stations, a ring network with a bandwidth of 155M or 622M is constructed. A dedicated board is used to
isolate and protect SCADA service data. Microwave can be easily deployed to supplement the optical transmission network in areas where
optical fibers cannot be easily routed, such as in mountainous areas or across rivers, and in urgent or emergency scenarios. Short-distance
tributary pipeline networks usually cover a small number of stations. MSTP/Hybrid-MSTP devices are deployed to form a ring network with a
bandwidth of 155M or 622M, and SNCP ring network protection protocols are adopted to ensure network reliability.

The production network

mainly provides access to SCADA data, video surveillance, and dispatching phones. Data collection equipment deployed at valve stations
that produce a small volume of data is connected with the transmission network via RTUs. Data collection equipment deployed at stations
that produce a large volume of data, such as compressor and metering stations, is connected with the transmission network via RTUs and
industrial Ethernet switches. The control center uses the aggregation industrial Ethernet switches to construct the SCADA system and uses
the firewall to isolate the control center from the production network. Control signals of core stations are collected and sent by satellite to
the control center for backup. Gigabit switches are deployed at all stations to ensure that high-capacity video surveillance signals access
the stations. Wireless APs are used in areas where wire lines cannot be routed to receive video signals. IP scheduling phones are accessed
through high-speed routers, and scheduling phones at important stations are backed up through satellite links.

The office automation network

consists of data communication devices such as switches and routers. It enables routine office phones, PCs, and videoconferencing
equipment to access the network. Office phones are linked with both the control center and the PSTN to ensure a reliable connection
between telephones in both the private network and public network.