Support from Space: How Satellites Can Help Energy Operators Improve Workforce Safety

With recent reports highlighting the challenges faced by rig operators in the North Sea and other challenging environments, the energy industry faces an urgent imperative: safeguarding its workforce. Such incidents underline the pressing need for innovative ways to shift the industry from reaction to prevention: demanding the energy sector to deliver a more proactive approach to crew welfare.

Oil and gas operators are increasingly turning to Internet of Things (IoT) technologies, which promise to revolutionize safety protocols through real-time monitoring, predictive maintenance of critical machinery, and continuous crew-safety monitoring.

Reliable connectivity is needed to effectively operate all these technologies, but the very nature of remote energy assets—often situated far beyond the reach of traditional cellular networks—means traditional networks are not always available.

This is where satellite-enabled solutions become indispensable. By leveraging advancements in satellite connectivity, oil and gas operators can activate these vital IoT technologies, helping to mitigate dangerous situations and improve worker welfare.

Safety Challenges in Remote Energy Ops

The energy industry workforce faces inherent dangers and unique safety challenges, particularly those operating in remote and volatile environments like offshore rigs. Recent hazardous incidents underscore the growing scrutiny of workforce safety across the sector.

These challenges can broadly be categorized into two primary areas. Firstly, on-site dangers encompass risks associated with heavy machinery, complex operations, and the potential for accidents. There is a critical need for continuous monitoring to prevent equipment failures, 'person overboard' situations, and human error. Secondly, transit dangers involve the hazards of reaching and departing remote sites, including difficult terrain or conditions, and the risk of vehicles going missing or encountering accidents.

Faced with multiple safety risks, technology will be essential in facilitating this shift. Energy industry operators are already increasingly turning to IoT monitoring technologies to improve safety protocols, with the energy operators highlighted as the largest investor in IoT solutions in Viasat’s recent IoT report.

Satellite IoT Can Transform Workforce Welfare

Satellite-enabled IoT provides continuous, always-on connectivity even in areas without cellular coverage, making it ideal for remote energy operations. This technology unlocks significant benefits, including the continuous, real-time monitoring of heavy machinery, always-on crew-safety surveillance, and remote vehicle tracking – helping to mitigate dangerous situations even in the most isolated environments.

IoT sensors on heavy machinery, such as drills and pumps, can continuously collect data. Overlaying this with AI then allows for real-time data analysis to detect anomalies, predict potential failures, and flag exceptions, thereby preventing accidents and optimizing maintenance schedules.

For example, by gathering data from pumps and pumping stations, if an anomaly is detected, workers can activate video monitoring services, such as those provided by Harvest Network, to conduct remote inspections, assess criticality, and schedule general maintenance or dispatch help. This not only reduces the need for constant physical checks but also allows for more efficient resource allocation and, crucially, gets staff out of harm's way.

The application of AI extends to video monitoring of sites, enabling the identification of "person down" scenarios or other unexpected activities. Solutions such as those provided by our partner AST Networks deliver real-time, high-speed video enabling the remote monitoring and management of operations, allowing for immediate response if crew are in danger. AI systems can also ensure compliance with safety equipment protocols, such as detecting if workers are not wearing required vests, thereby promoting a stronger culture of safety.

What’s more, IoT devices in vehicles enable real-time tracking of location, speed, and sudden changes in acceleration or deceleration. This allows for immediate notification in case of an accident, adherence to speed safety limits, and more efficient fleet management. Geofencing can also be employed for automated check-ins, ensuring personnel arrive safely at remote locations.

The Future of Safety

A significant shift in the cost-effectiveness of satellite IoT devices is underway, thanks to the potential of Narrowband Non-Terrestrial Network (NB-NTN) solutions. This new development brings together satellite and cellular connectivity, through one module, without the need for traditional satellite terminals. With NB-NTN, the need for costly user equipment hardware is substantially reduced compared to traditional satellite user terminals, opening up scale and new use cases for energy operators eager to deploy IoT solutions.

This means what was once a prohibitive, costly investment is now significantly more cost effective, making it feasible to track and protect a vast array of resources – from generators to ATVs - and more importantly individual crew members. The inherent scalability of NB-NTN allows for widespread deployment of trackers, enabling comprehensive oversight of personnel and assets across vast and remote energy landscapes.

Robust satellite connectivity is also a vital enabling layer for advanced technologies like autonomous hauling operations, such as remote trucks collecting oil and gas, and remote inspections, like drones for offshore rig maintenance.

Looking ahead, there is exciting potential for remote detection and even fixing of smaller issues in vehicles or equipment as they operate through smart software, further saving time and money.

The energy sector stands at a pivotal moment, grappling with inherent risks and the pressing need to safeguard its most valuable asset: its workforce. Satellite connected IoT empowers rig operators to move decisively from a reactive stance to one of prevention – from the continuous, real-time monitoring of critical machinery to the proactive surveillance of personnel.

Satellite-enabled IoT is not merely a technological upgrade; it is now a tangible, affordable, and scalable solution that is fundamentally transforming safety protocols. This is a strategic investment that promises a return, not just in workforce safety but also in operational efficiency, helping to build a more resilient and responsible energy industry for the future.