College partners to create new wireless system
11/4/2003 9:40:17 AM
November 4, 2003 – College of the North Atlantic (CNA), in a partnership with the University College of Cape Breton (UCCB), the University of New Brunswick (UNB), and the National Research Council, will receive $5.5 million from the Atlantic Innovation Fund (AIF) for a research and development plan to create a new petroleum application using wireless systems. The project (some three years in the planning) will receive the $5.5 million over five years, toward the $7.7 million total project cost.
The leading-edge project will include the development and commercialization of a wireless smart sensor system for offshore platforms and land-based refineries, to replace the current wired sensor technology. Research and manufacturing will be spearheaded by educational partners UCCB and UNB, and the National Research Council’s Wireless Systems research team, while College of the North Atlantic is committing its petroleum production and processing facility at Seal Cove campus to conduct realistic testing. Once the system is created, there will be a need to test and evaluate the devices and systems, says Shawn Paul, Seal Cove campuses’ Community Relations Officer. He says that CNA is counting on industry stakeholders such as Hibernia to play a role.
“In addition to testing that will take place in our facilities at Seal Cove campus, testing should be conducted in the field through corporate partners to measure natural interference and environmental factors such as temperature range, wind loading, resistance to salt spray, waterproofing, etc., to ensure that the product meets industry standards,” says Paul.
The college's team includes William Whalen, Associate District Administrator, Robert Babb, Industrial Instrumentation Mechanic Instructor, and Paul, all of the Seal Cove campus. The development of this new system would mean significant changes to the oil and gas sector, says Paul.
“A wireless sensor is not a new product, but is a new application of wireless sensors in the oil and gas industry that will make platforms more efficient.”
The development of such a product will enable platforms such as Hibernia to reduce the amount of cable trays necessary for wiring the electrical components of a rig.
“In developing a wireless system,” says Paul, “there will be significant reduction in the miles and miles of wires and cable trays that hold them in place.”
Key benefits to the oil and gas industry include weight and volume reduction on platforms, the elimination of cabling, speed and ease of installation, and the possibility of increased data collection points.
The project is currently in the infancy stage, and as it grows will bring benefits for all involved, Paul says.
“We are thrilled to be approved for this five-year project. It will not only provide new efficient technology for the Oil and Gas sector, but will also create work, as the project will require additional staffing such as research technicians and assistants.”
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For more information contact:
Stephen Lee
Communications Manager
(709) 643-7929
or
Tanya Alexander
Public Information Officer
(709) 643-7928