Shell (the oil giant) made news twice recently with different process automation companies. Ah, isn’t competition great.
Emerson Process Management
The first reflects a growing trend with large petrochemical projects. Emerson Process Management, an Emerson Corp. business, has entered into a five-year Global Framework Agreement (GFA) with Shell to serve as a Main Automation Contractor (MAC) on future capital projects globally. Under the Agreement, Emerson will provide project and support services for Main Automation Systems, including Distributed Control Systems (DCS) and Safety Instrumented Systems. The contract also provides for ongoing maintenance of existing systems, plus the supply of new systems for Brownfield and Greenfield facilities.
While Shell has utilized a MAC strategy in its Downstream businesses for years, the Company is expanding the concept to make it a center-point of an enterprise-wide automation strategy. “This Global Framework Agreement marks a completely new approach within Shell,” said Nick Curley, upstream automation portfolio manager for Shell. “It is a long-term, competitive, collaborative, performance-based relationship that will facilitate the delivery of considerable value to both parties. We will be looking to emulate this approach in many other key global categories in the future.”
“This new agreement will put Emerson in a position to substantially broaden its Main Automation Contractor footprint within Shell,” said Ronaldo Marques, general manager, equipment, for Shell’s Enterprise Categories & Suppliers division. “For the first time in history, Emerson will have full and open access to all Shell business units – Upstream, Downstream, Wind, Power and Biofuels – plus affiliated Joint Ventures.”
Honeywell Operator Rounds
Honeywell has acquired rights to technology developed by Shell Global Solutions (Shell) for gathering field data and helping industrial plants to safely increase production while reducing maintenance and operating costs.
This acquisition is said to strengthen Honeywell’s reliability and operational excellence offerings and delivers an integrated solution for the mobile field worker. In combination with Honeywell’s OneWireless network and Dolphin mobile computer devices, this technology will allow manufacturers to optimize communication, coordination, execution and tracking of critical field tasks and activities in real-time.
The operational and technical task for efficient rounds (OTTER) technology is currently used in more than 25 sites to help guide field operators as they execute key field surveillance tasks that keep assets running within safe operating limits and at optimum performance. It also delivers best practices to all field operators; provides decision support capabilities; improves regulatory reporting; and facilitates communication between groups to address problems immediately.
Honeywell will integrate the OTTER technology in its operational excellence solutions to provide operations teams complete sets of relevant data for all production assets. This data can help customers optimize plant performance and comply with health, safety and environment regulations.
Shell, for example, uses the OTTER technology along with Honeywell’s Operations Management Pro (OM Pro) solution as part of its Ensure Safe Production (ESP) program. The ESP program has reduced Shell’s unplanned downtime and process safety incidents and is being rolled out to its facilities globally.
“By providing timely and convenient access to relevant data in the field and improving communication between teams, OTTER gives operators the information they need to make the best decisions, which can ultimately improve plant and business performance. Honeywell has a strong future vision when it comes to solutions for the integrated mobile field worker and I am sure that OTTER technology will be a strong addition to their portfolio,” said Mark Stevens, vice president downstream technology services at Shell Global Solutions.
