Oil rig network installs IP to cut costs

Stena Drilling gains flexibility and savings with IP infrastructure

Drilling contractor Stena Drilling is installing an IP communications system to its five international oil rigs to cut internal costs and improve business processes and efficiency.

The independent firm has opted for Mitel’s 3300 IP Communications Platform (ICP) with IP-dect handsets, designed and delivered by Nescco.

It has been deployed at the company’s Aberdeen headquarters and is being installed on its rigs and at satellite offices throughout Asia, Australia and Africa.

The infrastructure replaces a managed service following Stena Drilling’s decision to bring its telecoms management inhouse to improve efficiency.

Sharon McLaughlin, IT manager at Stena Drilling, says the company was struggling with its old PBX system, which could not adapt quickly to drilling rigs having to be frequently moved.

‘Our old PBX system was analogue,’ she said. ‘It was hardwired rather than digital and every time there was an office move or a new person we needed to call our support partner for changes to be made on the PBX which was time-consuming and expensive. Getting engineers to rigs is not cost effective.’

‘Now the PBX is fully attached to the local area network, we can plug in a new IP phone and have no need for external resources. With purely IP handsets, maintenance for remote links can be centrally handled in Aberdeen.’

McLaughlin estimates the company will see cost savings of £20,000 a year at its headquarters and £10,000 on each rig.

‘We will have saved the cost of the implementation within 11 months,’ said McLaughlin.

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