RAD Handles Diverse Voice and Data Needs of Offshore Oil Industry

Industry-Leading Compression Reduces IP Satellite Transmission Costs

• Application
• - Voice/Data over IP Satellite
• Challenge
• - To cost-effectively deliver PRI and E&M voice, along with low and high speed data, between corporate headquarters and major offshore oil platforms
• Solution
• - The traffic compressed by RAD's Vmux-2100 is efficiently carried between sites over an IP satellite link. RAD's Vmux-2100 and Megaplex-2100 provide all the voice and data interfaces required. The RADview network management system and RADCare Service Program help meet SLA commitments.
• Benefits
• - Handles diverse voice and data types
• - Lowers transmission costs with industry-leading compression
• - Assures network reliability and maximizes network uptime

PetroCom is a pioneer in wireless voice and data communication for the offshore oil and gas industry. For more than 18 years, the offshore industry has relied on PetroCom to deliver uncompromising solutions for its communications needs. BP turned to PetroCom to provide voice and data connectivity to four new multi-billion dollar oil platforms erected in the deepwater Gulf of Mexico. BP required PRI for PBX connectivity, E&M for 2-way radio communications, low speed controller data, and high speed corporate WAN and Internet connectivity.

High Compression Ratio Lowers Transmission Costs

PetroCom selected RAD's Megaplex™-2100 modular multiplexer to integrate all the traffic, and RAD's Vmux™-2100 voice trunking gateway for cost-effective IP satellite transmission. "The dense compression provided by the Vmux makes it an industry leader. Vmux reduces the bandwidth requirement and minimizes the effects of latency and echo inherent in satellite circuits," explains Ken Wright, Chief Operating Officer at PetroCom. "And the IP link with dynamic bandwidth allocation using Cisco routers is much more efficient than a fixed-bandwidth TDM link," he states. The ML-IP™ module installed in the Megaplex multiplexer enables all types of TDM traffic to be transported over the IP link.

Guaranteed Reliability

PetroCom's service level agreement (SLA) with BP assures 99% system uptime for mission-critical applications and 30-second restoration if a problem occurs. The RADview™ network management system, which controls and manages the network and monitors network health, is therefore an important component of the RAD solution. For additional support, PetroCom is relying on the RADCare Service Program. Its guaranteed 24/7 technical support, priority handling of all service calls, and next-day shipment of replacement parts enable PetroCom to offer the best service to the customer. PetroCom intends to replicate the solution on two additional oil platforms that BP is planning to deploy next year. PetroCom will also assist BP in implementing this effective solution at other existing installations around the globe.

Voice and Data for Offshore Oil Platforms