2023 Excellence in Automation Award Winner

the International Society of Automation (ISA) and the ISA100 Wireless Compliance Institute (WCI) announced today that Aramco – Fadhili Gas Plant has won the 2023 ISA100 Wireless Excellence in Automation award for their novel application of wireless instrumentation at a key operating site. Aramco is recognized this year for pioneering the large-scale deployment of an ISA100 Wireless steam trap monitoring solution. They will be joining a distinguished list of end users who have received this award over the past 11 years.

ISA100 Wireless is an international, standards-based technology that delivers reliable, secure, and interoperable networks for industrial environments. Each year, the ISA100 Wireless Compliance Institute (WCI) presents the ISA100 Wireless Excellence in Automation Award to a global end-user company that has demonstrated outstanding leadership and innovation with ISA100 Wireless technology.

This year’s award is presented to Aramco – Fadhili Gas Plant for leadership in sustainable solutions, recognizing their market-leading work with large-scale, real-time steam trap monitoring.

Members of the Aramco – Fadhili Gas Plant’s engineering team presented the case study on their award-winning operation during the February 2024 ARC World Forum in Orlando, FL where Andre Ristaino, ISA Managing Director presented the award to Aramco representatives. View the presentation here.

“I am pleased to present this award each year, as it represents new advancements in technology and approaches in automation affecting our everyday lives.  The Aramco use-case contributes to energy savings and resource conservation, with positive impacts on sustainability in our world.” stated Andre Ristaino (Managing Director Global Consortia, Conformity Assessment International Society of Automation).

Notable past end-user recipients of the ISA100 Wireless Excellence in Automation Award include OMV Petrom, Enquest UK, Fuji Oil Company, Ltd., ILBOC, BAPCO, Alcoa, Phillips 66, PETRONAS, and Nippon Steele & Sumikin Engineering.

The Award-Winning Project

The steam trap is an essential part of any production’s steam system, managing steam and condensate for optimal heat utilization. Aramco recognized steam trap performance as a key opportunity to enhance plant efficiency by addressing steam leaks promptly. Furthermore, optimizing the steam system is an important step for Aramco to achieve its goal of net zero emissions by 2050. For these reasons, Aramco chose to deploy an automatic steam trap monitoring solution at the Fadhili Gas Plant.

Aramco chose ISA100 Wireless over other Industrial wireless technologies and solutions because it met and exceeded the requirements for real-time monitoring of asset conditions in the plant, including steam traps.  ISA100 Wireless is the only Industrial IoT standards-based solution that can cover a large geographic area using a single wireless network.

Project Highlights:

• A wireless network covering:
  • 2,243 Wireless Steam Trap Monitoring Sensors
  • 454 Wireless Vibration Sensors
  • 7 Gas Detectors (Under Trial – Piloting New Technology)
• The deployed ISA100 Wireless network is based on a distributed topology centered on a ISA100 Wireless Field Gateway and multiple ISA100 Wireless Field Backbone Routers.
• Fiber Optic based access points installed near the target devices minimize the need for wireless routers.
  

Project Benefits

ISA100 Wireless’ network architecture, connectivity technologies, and security mechanisms were able to deliver many benefits with minimal capital expenditure.

Realized benefits include:

• Swift and precise leak detection that eliminates the need for manual inspection, saving both time and money.
• An accurate diagnostic algorithm that furnishes users with information on trap performance and steam loss data.
• Transmission of the data to the Plant DCS and Data Acquisition and Historization System.
• Lower installation costs compared to wired solutions.
• Long-life battery, advanced diagnostics and regular maintenance ensure minimal maintenance for the wireless devices.
• The scalable nature of the wireless infrastructure easily accommodates the introduction of new wireless technologies. Wireless gas detection is one current example deployed at site.

About ISA100 Wireless

ISA100 Wireless is a plant-wide wireless infrastructure technology that improves plant performance, simplifies wireless operations, and reduces costs. It was developed through a multi-stakeholder process to meet the specific needs of industrial wireless communication. ISA100 Wireless certification assures interoperability between vendors - delivering end users the choice of best-of-breed wireless solutions that are standards-based, resilient, and secure. ISA100 Wireless is a non-profit industrial consortium under the umbrella of the International Society of Automation (ISA). Learn more at www.isa100wci.org.

About the International Society of Automation (ISA)

The International Society of Automation (ISA) is a non-profit professional association founded in 1945 to create a better world through automation. ISA advances technical competence by connecting the automation community to achieve operational excellence and is the trusted provider of standards-based foundational technical resources, driving the advancement of individual careers and the overall profession. ISA develops widely used global standards; certifies professionals; provides education and training; publishes books and technical articles; hosts conferences and exhibits; and provides networking and career development programs for its members and customers around the world. Learn more at http://www.isa.org/.