The development of Baker Hughes onshore operations centre,BEACON was described in the paper SPE78336. A criticalcomponent of the concept is the movement of certain services,including mud-logging, from the rig site to shore. Traditionalmud-logging systems were designed assuming that theoperators could intervene when required, for example to repairor calibrate the sensors. By moving people onshore, thisassumption is no longer valid. Further, changes must be madeto the work processes, including people competencies andtraining, to match the new working practices. Experience onBP’s Valhall DP operations demonstrated that greaterreliability would be required in all aspects of the mud loggingservice to achieve the reliability goals.In January 2002, Baker Hughes INTEQ and BP were awardeda grant under the Norwegian Demo2000 program to develop arig and operator independent ultra-reliable mud loggingservice capable of remote operation and control from thecentre, located in Stavanger. The funding has enabled theissues related to the intimate mixture of people, process andtechnology to be addressed.To help address the competency issues, a state-of-the-art mudlogging training facility has been created. A new generation ofhigh reliability sensors including an innovative gas trap andhydrogen generation device have been produced. Technicianswill be able to maintain and calibrate these from the onshorecentre. At the same time, new work processes have beendeveloped to improve business efficiency and HSE. These aresmall, but critical steps to help shape drilling automation inthe future. The paper contains a description of the system’s analysis,including a comparison with the NORSOK standards, whichserve as a benchmark. The additional requirements imposedby the need for remote control are also presented.
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