Solid State Systems for Alarm Monitoring Supervisory Control and Telemetering in The Pipeline and Production Industry
Authors: Stone E.H. 
Published: December 2007

We propose to describe automation technology in terms of solid-state time division multiplex systems and analog instrumentation for petroleum production and pipeline applications requiring alarm/status indication, supervisory control, digital telemetery or combinations thereof.

Alarm indication and supervisory control will be examined in terms of equipment, system security and applications to environmental conditions, using theoretical examples and actual installations representative of Moore Associates experience.

The field of digital telemetery may be broadly characterized in terms of data acquisition, data accumulation and computer interface applications. We propose to discuss each of these areas, the peripheral equipment associated with them and the inherent value of a broad-based concept in approaching and satisfying such applications.

We shall discuss new products and design improvements in the state of the art of industrial automation, giving particular emphasis to economy and efficiency as illustrated by such new products as Moore Associates MARC 808A Digital Encoder, MARC 825A Analog to Pulse Duration Converter and the MARC 822A Voiceband Selector for mobile communications dispatching.

Conclusions relative to the state of the art quality and the inherent benefits of solid-state time division multiplex will be submitted for your consideration. In particular, code security relative to competitive system philosophy will be examined.

Introduction

In each of the past seven years we have expected and seen a growth in the several markets for industrial automation. Simultaneously, and expectedly we have seen [1] a consistently higher degree of customer sophistication in recognition of and demand for the higher quality and reliability of solid-state products; and [2] a consistent increase in the number of competitors including new firms created to operate in the industrial market place and the space-age giants eager to capitalize on millions of dollars worth of research and development for application of their highly sophisticated technology to the industrial market place. It was apparent to us, seven years ago at the outset of our endeavor, that industrial customers must measure their activity in automation by results and economy. Over-design can be appreciated in terms of reliability but its cost cannot be recovered by the manufacturer and the price of space quality sophistication will not be borne by the consumer. Our products have necessarily been designed to meet high standards of quality, reliability, and economy achieved through standardization. Practical installations and research lead to the state-of-the-art improvements and new products necessary to retain leadership in the field of industrial automation.

Our philosophy then, and the purpose of this paper, is to illustrate the applicability and economy of time division multiplex in petroleum and pipeline installations.

DEFINITIONS

For purposes of clarity we think it appropriate to define a few of the terms commonly used in association with our products.

Multiplexing: A system for the simultaneous transmission of two or more signals in either or both direction over a facility such as a cable pair, which would otherwise carry only one signal.