Honeywell’s enhanced RTU2020 process controller simplifies management of distributed oil and gas assets

Honeywell Process Solutions has launched its newest RTU2020 process controller, which helps operating companies in oil and gas, mining, and other process industries effectively manage complex remote automation and control applications.

Today’s industrial operations are increasingly challenged with converting “Big Data” from complex automation systems and intorelevant, actionable information. The growth of unconventional exploration and production in oil and gas has also increased the number of remote assets and data to manage.

“Distributed operations are under constant pressure in all production environments. Critical assets are often widely scattered over areas where operating conditions are demanding,” said Brendan Sheehan, Senior Marketing Director, Projects and Automation Solutions, HPS. “With the RTU2020, companies have more flexibility to implement highly effective remote operations strategies across their businesses. They can benefit from reduced equipment monitoring and diagnostic time, as well as reduced travel and increased safety by not sending personnel to the field to troubleshoot device issues.”

The RTU2020, enhanced with native redundancy, expanded input/output (I/O) modules, and wireless I/O, is a modular process controller that provides complete visibility into the most efficient utilisation of distributed assets through expanded remote monitoring, diagnostic and asset management. The unit is designed to withstand harsh environments and can be deployed at remote sites with very low power consumption (1.8 watts), which is ideal for use with solar power. It also allows for remote maintenance and cuts equipment monitoring and diagnostic time from hours to minutes.

RTU2020 now increases availability through native controller redundancy – no switch is required for I/O communications. A new integrated onboard solution provides wireless I/O integration of ISA100 instruments, with no specialised module needed. ISA100 instruments appear as “native” I/O to the controller.

The RTU2020 controller’s 28 channels of onboard I/O can now be extended by adding one or more of the new 28 channel mixed I/O modules. Like the onboard I/O, the new mixed I/O module is HART-enabled. This approach contrasts with process controllers requiring separate dedicated HART modules or external multiplexers. No extra hardware is needed with this solution, and digital HART data and diagnostics are available locally for use in control and alarming as well as remote instrument health monitoring.

RTU2020’s innovative design meets multi-well operational requirements in the oil and gas field, including electronic flow metering for gas per API 21.1 with per meter run licensing. Additionally, RTU2020’s flow calculations have been independently validated against Alberta Energy Regulator (AER) Directive 17. ISO equations have been added to the flow calculation library alongside the existing AGA and API based calculations.

Honeywell’s RTU2020 offers numerous best-in-class features, including removable and plug-in terminal blocks to simplify wiring and reduce time for cabinet assembly. Integrated with Honeywell’s Experion® supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) system, it eases configuration over thousands of assets and enables operational efficiency with an advanced human-machine interface (HMI). Users gain perfect “20/20 vision” into realising the production potential of their distributed assets. Honeywell’s distributed system architecture (DSA) allows multiple Experion SCADA servers to operate as one within a single asset or across the enterprise.

Paired with Honeywell’s Field Device Manager (FDM), the RTU2020 provides an effective method of remotely interrogating instrument data and diagnostics, as well as running methods like valve signatures — all via the RTU2020 process controller.

Edited from press release by Angharad Lock

Read the article online at: https://www.hydrocarbonengineering.com/product-news/12112015/honeywell-rtu2020-process-controller-483/