HiberHilo makes it easy to get well and pipeline data from the most remote oil and gas fields on the planet. But, as many oil and gas companies know, sometimes installing technology in these fields is like sending out an open invitation for theft.
If the steal-ability of HiberHilo is on your mind, we’ve got good news. We’ve never had a sensor or gateway stolen, even though we’ve installed the solution in areas where theft is common. It all comes down to some clever things we do in design and deployment to keep the hardware safe.
Read on to learn how we approach deployment so the hardware stays where it should: installed in your wells and pipelines.
HiberHilo is designed to be low-profile.
Flashy technology is the technology that’s most likely to be stolen. That’s why we’ve designed HiberHilo to be low profile and blend in with the environment.
The sensors, which are installed on the wellheads or pipelines, are small devices that pack a big punch in terms of data collection. One installed on a wellhead, they blend into the existing environment seamlessly. The colours of the sensors can even be altered so they match your well or pipeline. If you glance at the wellhead, you might not even see it.
The gateway is a small, shoebox-sized piece of hardware that collects the data from sensors and transmits it to the online dashboard. It isn’t especially noticeable when it’s out in the field, but it is more noticeable than the sensors themselves. And if you use solar panels as a power source, it’s more obvious.
The simple way to overcome this is to avoid using solar panels. If main power is available for the gateway, we advise customers to connect the gateway through that source. But, sometimes solar panels are the only option. In which case the installation location makes a big difference.
Installation location makes a big difference.
HiberHilo uses LoRaWAN technology to connect all the sensors in the field to your gateway. Because the antenna has such a wide range, it means the gateway can be located kilometres away, ideally somewhere where it will stay safe.
Whenever we plan an installation, we look for fenced facilities to serve as the location for the gateway (and solar panels, if needed). This could be a small ranger station, or fenced off warehouse. If there’s a spot, we’ll plan the installation around it. You can even install it inside, behind a concrete wall, if needed.
If, for some reason, there isn’t a good fenced location for the gateway, don’t worry. The other option is to install the hardware on a tall tower, effectively making it impossible for a thief to reach. This method also has the added benefit of (sometimes) extending the range of the gateway.
