A Fiber Optic Broadband Telecommunications System for the Gulf of Mexico's Largest Offshore Complex
Authors: Benbow M.S. , D&apos;Aquin D.D. 
Published: October 2008

In December of 1988 a joint venture led by Freeport Sulphur Company discovered a major brimstone deposit of 67,000,000 long tons twenty miles offshore in the Gulf of Mexico. At a production rate of 2 million tons of sulphur per year this facility will be in operation for the next 30 years. This paper will cover the Telecommunication Design Challenges created by building the largest offshore complex in the Gulf of Mexico. It describes the Telecommunication techniques used in transporting large amounts of digital voice, data and video to and from the Corporate headquarters in New Orleans. These Telecommunication Media include Partial T-1 C-Band Satellite Links, Ku-Band Satellite Links, and Digital Microwave Links. The paper incorporates the design selection and utilization of intelligent multiplexer% dynamically selecting the most cost effective available path while dynamically allocating the individual channel bandwidth on each path.

It further describes the evolution into a synergistic offshore telecommunications system integrating digital voice, data, and video signals into a Fiber-Optic Broad Band Backbone System. It highlights various offshore Telecommunication Subsystems, including Digital Trunk Radio, L4NS (Ethernet and Token Ring), Video Monitoring and Surveillance, Digital PABX, Video Teleconferencing, Boat Detection, and Temporary Communication systems.

INTRODUCTION

Main Pass Block 299, (Fig. 1) is located in 210 feet of water, 20 miles east of the mouth of the Mississippi River in the Gulf of Mexico. The production facilities will incorporate the latest technology based upon previous applications, the company's expertise in offshore sulphur mining and on proprietary mining techniques that use seawater in sulphur mining. The offshore production facility will be installed on a series of offshore platforms (Fig. 2) linked together by more than a mile of bridges. The Main Pass facilities are scheduled for completion in late 1991 with sulphur production beginning soon thereafter.

We will now discuss the evolvement of the Main Pass Mine telecommunication system.

PLANNING FOR A TELECOMMUNICATION SYSTEM

A telecommunications study group working with an advisory group in early 1989 determined that the communications systems capacity required for the Main Pass Mine to the Corporate Headquarters in New Orleans would be as follows:

Service Channels Required

Telephone Trunks 12 (Voice and Data) Video Teleconferencing l or 2 Freeze Frame Video1 (Surveillance) Remote Control 1 (DCS System) Total Channels Required 16

Given the above requirements for the major services, many communications options were considered using radio, microwave, satellite, leased surface utilities, and fiber optics.

After investigation and review of the technical and economic aspects of the various options, the study group determined the following:The requirement of 16 channels, established above, did not necessitate the use of ultra-high density communications such as fiber optics or sophisticated, dedicated digital microwave systems.These then current requirements could not be met using conventional two-way radio type voice and data communication techniques.The resultant acceptable communication techniques, namely, leased surface conventional microwave and satellite were reviewed in detail and resulted in the final selection of a dual redundant satellite system.