How mobile HMI technology transforms oil & gas operations
Offshore platforms and refinery complexes have historically operated under a fundamental constraint: process visibility and control remain centralised in control rooms, whilst critical work occurs across distributed field locations
Field workers execute tasks based on instructions relayed through radios and paper documentation, creating communication latencies that impact both operational efficiency and safety margins. Mobile Operator Panel technology from i.safe Mobile fundamentally restructures this operational model by extending full HMI capabilities directly into Zone 1/21 and Zone 2/22 hazardous environments through intrinsically safe, explosion-certified hardware.
TECHNICAL ARCHITECTURE
The solution combines intrinsically safe tablets, either the Android-based IS940.1 or Windows-based IS945.1, with the IS-CS1A.1 Connectivity System. Interface modules integrate within Ex-rated enclosures whilst docking stations provide continuous power delivery and data connectivity. Ex-approved barriers maintain Ethernet, USB and power connections with complete ATEX and IECEx certification. Integration occurs through standard RDP or VNC protocols, connecting seamlessly to existing SCADA and DCS infrastructures without requiring system modifications.
OPERATIONAL VALUE BEYOND INCREMENTAL GAINS
Consider pigging on offshore facilities, where process operators, mechanical teams, contractors and safety personnel traditionally coordinate through control room intermediaries. Each status verification or valve position check requires radio communication, creating decision delays. Mobile panels eliminate this bottleneck by providing direct access to live process schematics at the point of work. Mechanical crews verify depressurisation status before opening vessels. Contractors confirm utility specifications without verbal relay chains. Process operators monitor boundary conditions in real-time, whilst permit holders validate safe work boundaries through actual equipment states.
This capability proves essential during simultaneous operations (SIMOPS) and permit handover procedures. Real-time visibility into isolation status and boundary conditions enables coordinated execution across multiple crews. During shift transitions, incoming teams access complete operational context through docked tablets, eliminating paper-based handover delays.
The ROI calculation extends beyond time savings. On offshore platforms, mobile access to diagnostics and equipment history enables technicians to execute maintenance decisions on-site. Response times decrease measurably when operators assess alarm conditions at equipment locations rather than interpreting remote data. Safety improvements manifest through reduced human error – coordination occurs via shared visibility of plant conditions.
RELIABILITY ARCHITECTURE
The docking station approach deliberately avoids exclusive wireless dependency. Industrial environments present formidable RF challenges: metal structures create shadow zones, whilst process equipment generates electromagnetic interference. Fixed docking installations guarantee connectivity, whilst devices operate independently between docking events, displaying cached graphics and trends. This hybrid architecture ensures reliable access regardless of wireless network performance, maintaining operational continuity during communication infrastructure disruptions.
BEYOND TRADITIONAL CONTROL PARADIGMS
The Mobile Operator Panel technology represents an evolution in how hazardous area operations integrate automation intelligence with field reality. Control rooms retain strategic coordination roles, yet routine decisions and immediate responses migrate to the point of operational need. For organisations operating offshore platforms or refinery complexes, this shift delivers measurable improvements in response times, maintenance efficiency and safety performance - positioning mobile HMI technology as a structural transformation in how industrial operations function within explosion-hazardous environments.
Benedikt Eckert is head of sales Europe at i.safe Mobile. www.isafe-mobile.com