Woodside expands North Rankin comms system

Woodside Energy has expanded an IP radio network to cover a new offshore platform it is about to bring online at its North Rankin gas project off north-west Western Australia.

Woodside's North Rankin hub (Courtesy: Woodside Energy)

The energy giant has put an Omnitronics DX-64 digital radio management system on the North Rankin B platform, which is connected to an existing platform, North Rankin A, by a 100-metre "bridge".

North Rankin A already hosts a DX-64 system, and the two systems have been "conferenced" to work together.

The system at platform A also services Woodside's Angel platform, which is remotely controlled from North Ranking A via a 50km subsea cable.

When the North Rankin B platform comes online next year, it will operate in tandem with the A platform as a "single integrated facility known as the North Rankin hub", according to Woodside.

The system is designed to manage operational communications on UHF or VHF channels, as well as communication between maintenance crews, crane operators, helicopters and boats, according to a case study (pdf).

"By creating the ability to access any channel from any platform or position within the North Rankin hub (NRA, NRB and ANG), Woodside has increased the safety and efficiency of their network for both daily operations and emergency situations," the case study noted.