Ashtead seals network deal

Ashtead Technology said it had gained the capability to deliver broadband communications between rigs, vessels and onshore facilities following a global deal with remote communications supplier, nCentric.

nCentric is a US-based supplier of subsea equipment rental, sales and services to the offshore industry.

The deal will enable Ashtead Technology to supply video streaming and data transmissions for large-scale, wireless dynamic mesh networks from its offices across the globe.

“Capturing data from remote locations is still a major challenge for the industry,” said Tim Sheehan [pictured], commercial director at Ashtead Technology.

“Today, most communications from oil and gas platforms and vessels to shore depend on expensive satellite links. The nCentric technology delivers a cost effective, efficient and reliable wireless network in large, hard-to-reach geographical areas.”

The nCentric technology delivers a cost effective, efficient and reliable wireless network in large, hard-to-reach geographical areas

Tim Sheehan, commercial director at Ashtead Technology

The nCentric technology can be used to monitor offshore operations, increase communication and can relay high definition footage from Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs) in real-time, he said.

The system can also be configured remotely and monitored from an onshore location, reducing the number of people required offshore and limiting downtime.

nCentric’s technology featured in the clean-up operation following the Deep Water Horizon disaster in 2010, said Ashtead. Using the communication node on board eight vessels, crews were able to stream more than 10 live ROV video images to the offshore command centre, and between one another, which created a reliable communication link.