Industrial Communication - Special Considerations for the Oil and Gas Industries

Communication is important in any industry, but in the oil/gas industry it is of critical importance. There are several important areas to consider as you develop a new communication system or assess a current configuration.

The first consideration is making sure that your communication system covers all of your workers including those working in remote locations. Even employees in hard to reach areas need two way communication with others. This is important both for reporting emergencies and for asking the questions necessary to facilitate making good on the job decisions. Also, it may be necessary to contact workers assigned to remote locations, such as gas and oil fields, to share critical information with them. Unless there are already wires in place, remote communication is usually best established by wireless systems such as radios and intercoms. Not only is there no need to lay wires, it is easy to modify and change the system as your company changes and grows.

The second consideration is speed. In an emergency, speed matters, and push to talk devices are the best for making sure that communication is instantaneous when needed. No need to wait for a signal with modern push to talk headsets and intercoms. This communication is available when it is needed at the push of a button. Even intercoms at typically unmanned stations are available and ready to use in the event of inspections and temporary assignments.

Another consideration is flexibility and room for growth. The oil/gas industry is somewhat unique in that locations change as new supplies of gas or oil are discovered and drilled. A system with limited flexibility will not be able to meet future needs. In addition to wireless intercoms, portable radios and headsets work particularly well in the field. These components are also particularly easy to service as they can be brought to a central location for technicians to perform routine maintenance or repairs.

Security is another area to plan for as you design or upgrade your communication system. Although wireless components are convenient, it is important to make sure that all transmissions are secure. All of your communication signals should be encrypted so that no one other than authorized employees can access any of your messages. For unmanned locations, you will want to make sure that the communication devices themselves cannot easily be tampered with. Video monitoring provides an additional measure of security for those locations that can’t always be staffed.

Remembering portability, speed, flexibility, and security will ensure that your oil/gas industry communication system meets both your short term and long term needs.