The business of extracting oil and gas from the ground is one of the toughest, most dangerous jobs on earth. It’s rough for both the workers performing the job and the equipment they use. Rugged computers are an essential tool to keep the job running smoothly in every step of the process. They can provide GIS and GPS for surveying, control machine guidance systems, quickly run diagnostics and a lot more.
Oil and gas rigs are more often than not located in areas with extreme weather, both on-shore and off-shore you can expect some extreme temperatures. The equipment needs to be able to handle the desert heat and dust as well as arctic winds and saltwater. A quality rugged computer can do that. It can also take all the punishment from vibrations, being dropped, drowned and dragged through the dirt.
Surveying for oil and gas
Rugged computers can help from the start and provide accurate GIS and GPS for surveying jobs. As huge areas of remote land need to be covered, an efficient GPS solution will make geomapping and geotagging a lot more accurate. They provide both built-in GPS and connectivity to highly specialized GPS equipment.
Rugged computers aid machine guidance
Running machine guidance solutions from a distance is a smart way to both increase productivity and keep the workers safe. Workers can use rugged tablets to control machine guidance systems while remaining at a safe distance from drill-and-blast equipment. At the same time, it’s a big-time saver and increases the extraction process.
Collect data and run diagnostics on-site
The oil and gas industry will cause a lot of wear and tear so equipment will need to be maintained thoroughly. Even then machines are bound to occasionally break. With rugged computers on-site you can quickly run diagnostics on machinery and fix them without worrying about your diagnostics device breaking from a little dirt. You will also be able to collect the data needed to schedule maintenance more efficiently and make sure your operation won’t be standing still.
Reduce environmental impact
Oil giant Shell believes that digitalization will be able to reduce emissions by up to 20% in the oil and gas industry. Reducing unnecessary transport through data collection. Preventing or quickly finding gas leaks and oil spills to avoid damage. Companies are currently struggling to find these in time. With the help of predictive analysis and sensors, it will be possible to stop the damages before it’s too late. All of this requires capable and efficient devices on-site. To collect the data and transmit it as well as provide communications between the worker and headquarters.
Safety & Compliance
In a heavily regulated business, it’s crucial to perform inspections with both accuracy and efficiency. Submitting reports digitally and directly on-site is going to be both quicker and more precise. A rugged PDA that can be both docked in a vehicle, carried by hand and take a beating, will be the most effective way to get the job done.
Click here to read more about rugged computers in the oil and gas industry or check out some more exciting use-cases for rugged wearables.