Utilising IEC 61850 in Oil & Gas integrated control and safety system

A reliable and dependable energy supply is vital for the functioning of any industry. Managing and controlling this supply is thus as important as managing and controlling any other significant process parameter in the oil & gas industry. Traditionally, the systems that serve process automation and power distribution within the same platform are separate, but are coupled by extensive hardwiring interfaces. IEC 61850 protocol is implemented on Ethernet which is fast and reliable, and enables the integration of all protection, control, measurement and monitoring functions by one common protocol. Critical operations in Oil & Gas ICSS will benefit from increased availability of its electrical system by employing IEC 61850 communication technology. This paper discusses the implementation of IEC 61850 protocol in an Oil & Gas ICSS.