Advantages of FOUNDATION in FPSOs

I came across an interesting article on the use of FOUNDATION fieldbus in a Floating Production Storage and Offloading project. I originally posted it to our LinkedIn group but I thought it was a good piece to also share with everyone on our blog.

The article, by Suresh P. Nair, was featured in a web exclusive by InTech.

The article explains all the benefits of having a "plug and play" technology that allows for quick modular connections of instrumentation in a very confined space. As we all know, space on a sea-bearing vessel comes at a premium so the smaller the footprint of your equipment, the more room for raw product. More raw product is the bottom line.

In the LinkedIn group posting I linked above, Jonas Berge talks about what this type of installation means beyond just FPSOs. The overarching benefit here is with regards to the ability to modular construct FOUNDATION fieldbus projects. While the immediate benefits for this type of application on an FPSO is space savings, weight savings, diagnostics, cabling savings, ease of commissioning etc (you all know the extensive list of benefits of FOUNDATION fieldbus by now), the true benefits are something bigger.

With the ability to modularly construct projects, easier project implementation on site greatly increases. Jonas points out that the ability to modularly construct a project allows the user to "reduce labor at the isolated site where resources are scarce, using manpower in the yard where resources are plenty." There is a powerful message to be learned in that statement. I agree with Jonas that we're not too far off from major mammoth projects being built offsite and shipped modularly for connection. We already see this type of thing happening across other industrial projects like major roadway/bridges and building construction. In fact, many of our regular homes are being built offsite these days with entire walls being pre-fabricated and delivered to site.

Be sure to read the full article on InTech's website here: Advantages of FOUNDATION for FPSOs

Also, be sure to read all of Jonas Berge's insights on the project on our LinkedIn group here: FOUNDATION Fieldbus LinkedIn Group - FPSO



As a side note I can't help but be reminded of the story of a hotel just south of us in San Antonio that is sitting along the riverwalk that was build in a modular fashion for the Texas World Fair in 1968. It took only 46 days to "build" 496 rooms on the 21 story hotel.

Click Image to Read about the Modular Construction of the San Antonio Hotel

InTech Case Study on Fieldbus for Steam Drain Control

There is an interesting case study in this month's InTech about using FOUNDATION fieldbus that discusses using a mixed environment of conventional devices and fieldbus devices in a steam drain control application.  the case study also talks about extensive use of fieldbus function blocks and was a collaborative effort between John Petzen of GE and Fieldbus Foundation.

From the article:

"Fieldbus-enabled valves are available that have extended capability, including the capability to interrogate external switches. While these were intended for use with external limit switches for valve position, these valve capabilities provide an interesting solution to the drain-valve control problem laid out above. The level switches can be wired to the valve controller, and switch position can be reported back to the control system using discrete input blocks. While this allows the wiring reduction typically associated with digital device installation, it avoids the higher device and installation cost of level transmitters. "

 Fieldbus for steam-drain control: Combining simple devices and fieldbus devices in a common system

YouTube Presentation from Vietnam Seminar

Here is an interesting YouTube video of a presentation by Pham Duc Hai of Emerson Process Management at our seminar in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. We also have some pictures and a report from the seminar forthcoming.  Thanks to all who organized and participated in the seminar!

Emerson AMS now Offers Predictive Diagnostics for All Control Systems

Emerson Process Management has announced that it has tested and successfully integrated Softing's Linking Device and Gateway FG-110-FF,with the Emerson AMS Suite predictive maintenance software application. This basically means that AMS can be added to any FOUNDATION fieldbus network regardless of host.  You can read the entire press release here. 

Softing is one of our Development Services Providers (DSPs) at the Fieldbus Foundation.

Emerson's AMS Suite predictive diagnostics now available on any Foundation Fieldbus control system

Come See FOUNDATION for ROM at Automation 2013 Mumbai

The FOUNDATION fieldbus India Committee (FFIC) is hard at work on creating our FOUNDATION for ROM (Remote Operations Management) demonstration to be held at the Automation 2013 trade show in Mumbai from September 23 through 26 at the Bombay Exhibition Center.  There is a great program of keynote speeches planned on the 23rd, including presentations from Peter Martin of Invensys on the value of automation. Fieldbus Foundation Chairman and President and CEO of Pepperl+Fuchs Dr. Gunther Kegel will deliver a presentation on the rise of Cyber Physical Systems in manufacturing.  Fieldbus Foundation marketing manager Larry O'Brien will be delivering a presentation on the impact of digital communications on process automation, and Mr. K Nandakumar of Chemtrols Industries Limited will be delivering the keynote address.

We have a full day FOUNDATION for ROM seminar planned at the show for September 24th.  Details of the agenda will follow, but will include presentations from Larry O'Brien, Dr. Gunther Kegel, and B.R. Mehta, Senior Vice President of Reliance Industries (the Reliance Jamnagar Refinery is the largest FOUNDATION fieldbus installation in the world).  

Automation 2013 Mumbai

Come to our End User and Sales Force Training Seminars in Chicago!

Our Chicago end user and sales force training seminars are right around the corner.  We will be hosting our end user seminar on September 18th at the Chicago Marriott O'Hare hotel, and our sales force training seminar will occur on Thursday September 19th at the same venue.  You can access complete agendas and registration information here.

End User Seminars

Our end user seminars are geared toward taking the mystery out of FOUNDATION fieldbus and making end users and systems integrators realize the true lifecycle benefits of the technology. Whether you are a new user contemplating your first fieldbus project, an experienced user trying to get the most out of your installation, or a systems integrator that wants to implement fieldbus successfully, these seminars are designed for you. The best part is that through the support of our many sponsors, we are able to hold these seminars at no charge.

In addition to live demonstrations, you will also hear from some of the best and most advanced trainers, end users, and experts in the world of fieldbus. Dave Lancaster has helped implement countless FOUNDATION fieldbus projects around the world, and is also one of our certified instructors at Trine University in Indianapolis. John Rezabek of Ashland Chemical is Chairman of our End User Advisory Council and has years of experience using FOUNDATION fieldbus on a day-to-day basis. We often also call upon Herman Storey who is now an independent consultant after retiring from Shell Global Solutions recently. Herman is extremely knowledgeable and intimately familiar with the Fieldbus Foundation and its processes while approaching everything from his end user perspective.


This year, we are making our sessions more interactive than ever. Come and see how getting the real lifecycle cost savings of FOUNDATION fieldbus is easier than you thought, and learn about how “in a world of choices, FOUNDATION brings it all together.”

Sales Force Training Seminars

Intended to provide a greater understanding of the operational improvements and business benefits delivered by the FOUNDATION automation infrastructure, the sales training seminars will be presented by leading experts in fieldbus technology. The seminar content is designed to be vendor-neutral, addressing key topics of interest for salespeople involved with control and instrumentation products. In particular, the seminars aim to dispel myths about FOUNDATION technology and provide hard facts and data salespeople can rely upon.

These sales force training seminars are also free of charge and every attendee leaves with the FOUNDATION fieldbus sales force playbook.

Chicago End User Seminar on September 18th, O'Hare Airport Marriott

Chicago Sales Force training Seminar September 19th, O'Hare Airport Marriott