The collaboration will become a game changer for both partners. (Image source: Rockwell)

Rockwell Automation has signed an agreement with Taurob (Dietsmann Group) to provide a holistic robotic solution that would enable industrial organizations to move towards autonomous operations in their facilities

Taurob designs and manufactures ground robots for inspection, maintenance and data collection to optimise and enhance efficiency on a variety of industrial sites.

Kalypso, Rockwell’s digital services business, and Taurob will work together to provide clients with an end-to-end robotic automation solution that will herald the next phase in industrial automation and transformation. This partnership will amplify Rockwell's position as a leader in robot automation and digital twin solutions and Taurob’s position as a leader in ground robots for industrial inspection.

“In working towards the goal of autonomous operations, many industrial companies have considered the design of facilities, connectivity, digital solutions, and artificial intelligence, but manual inspection of facilities is still commonplace,” said Matt Graves, Kalypso digital principal, process industries. “As a next phase in industrial automation, companies are now looking at how to automate fleets of inspection robots using digital twin and Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) technologies. This partnership will be a huge step in helping our clients meet their efficiency, net zero, and safety goals."

Taurob's robots can perform missions under harsh environmental conditions to gather video, audio and sensor data, detect gas leaks and manipulate valves while adhering to the strictest industry safety standards and supporting customers’ net-zero initiatives.
Autonomous operations have long been an aspiration across industrial process sectors such as oil and gas, mining, and chemicals due to the hazardous working environments. In fact, Taurob’s robots are ATEX certified, a strict and compulsory certification that allows them to work especially in the oil and gas industry. They also offer high resistance to hot environments and up to four hours of mission runtime, among other advantages.

Kalypso and Taurob will provide a holistic solution from the physical robot and sensors, through to the robot supervision software, for mission data analysis using AI/ML and systems integration. This will allow organizations to move towards autonomous operations with the business value of a solution for inspection and maintenance that increases personnel safety, reduces OPEX and improves production throughput.

“Our partnership with Rockwell will become a game changer with respect to scaling our unique ATEX-certified robots around the world,” said Taurob’s co-founder and managing director, Matthias Biegl. “Our respective expertise complements one another to offer an integrated solution, in addition to which we will be able to streamline sales and marketing efforts to optimize and enhance efficiency for our clients on a variety of industrial sites.”

The wireless steam trap monitoring device. (Image source: Yokogawa)

Yokogawa Electric Corporation has launched a new ATEX-compliant wireless steam trap monitoring device for steam trap status monitoring in steam piping equipment

Developed with thermal utility engineering firm Armstrong International, the new product is part of Yokogawa's Sushi Sensor range in the OpreX Asset Management and Integrity family.

Steam traps are installed on steam distribution pipes, heat exchangers, humidifiers, sterilisers, tracers, and other equipment to remove condensate and ensure efficient heat transfer. Losses from failures in steam traps can reach tens of thousands to millions of US dollars annually. Currently, in most instances, workers are responsible for inspecting and monitoring steam traps wherever they have been installed. While the installation of an automatic monitoring system is an effective way to reduce this inspection workload, the cost of installing such systems has been cost prohibitive. In addition, there is the need to monitor not only the status of steam traps, but also a wide range of related equipment.

By facilitating the timely detection of failures in steam traps, the new product can significantly reduce energy loss. When used in combination with the other wireless pressure sensors, wireless temperature sensors, and wireless vibration sensors in the Sushi Sensor lineup, this device enables the monitoring of a wide range of equipment. Features include:

1. Automatic detection of steam trap status

This device utilises a high-quality temperature sensor and an acoustic sensor to detect the status of steam traps. It can be used in environments with a maximum steam temperature of 440°C.

2. Lower wireless network construction costs

The use of long-range wireless LoRaWAN communication gives this device the ability to communicate at distances of up to around 1km, enabling the monitoring of equipment over a wide area. These monitoring devices can thus be easily installed wherever steam traps are located, and can be connected to a single gateway, thereby holding down network construction costs.

3. Better consistency in inspection quality and less time spent on on-site inspections

The use of Yokogawa’s on-premise GA10 data logging software or other similar cloud-based software will enable the centralised monitoring of steam traps and other equipment wherever they are installed around a plant. Not only will this make for greater consistency in inspection quality, it will mean that on-site inspections do not need to be carried out as frequently.

Hiroshi Tanoguchi, a Yokogawa Electric vice president and executive officer, and head of the Yokogawa Products Headquarters, said, “With this release, we have enriched the Sushi Sensor family of solutions and made it possible to construct networks efficiently and at a lower cost. In the future, we intend to provide this as an energy monitoring solution. Based on steam trap status, this will enable the calculation of projected energy losses in monetary terms and facilitate the creation of maintenance plans, with the priority on high-risk equipment. Through the provision of such highly convenient solutions, Yokogawa is helping its customers reduce their emissions of greenhouse gases and hit their ESG management targets.”

This new product is available in Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, and Saudi Arabia. It will be later released in the USA, Europe, and India in compliance with IECEx, FM, and other explosion-protected standards.

Octiv Auto Frac enables the fully autonomous execution of fracture design. (Image source: Halliburton)

Halliburton has launched the Octiv Auto Frac service, the latest addition to the Octiv Intelligent Fracturing Platform, which enables the fully autonomous execution of fracture design 

As core acreage diminishes and fracture operations grow more complex, real-time insight over what is taking place down hole and at the surface has never been more important. The Octiv platform is an intelligent fracturing ecosystem that uses intelligent automation to optimise fracture operations, digitising and automating workflows, information, and equipment across all aspects of fracture operations.

Execution variability is ever-present during fracturing operations. Even when completion designs are planned to be constant, execution decisions are made frequently on every job site. This can lead to inconsistent fracture execution and inefficient operations. The Octiv Auto Frac service improves operational consistency, enhances completion performance and gives customers autonomous control of their frac fleet. It automates thousands of decisions while pumping, based on customer job designs and pre-job control inputs, with constant response to dynamic stimulation conditions.

“The addition of Auto Frac to our existing Octiv platform enables customers to have fully autonomous execution of a frac job,” said Jeff Miller, Halliburton chairman, president and CEO.

“Combined with the ZEUS platform and the Sensori service, we provide consistency and remove variability from job execution to lower the total cost of ownership for customers. Halliburton’s frac automation technologies are the cornerstone of how we deliver well pad results with unmatched precision and efficiency. As our customers execute completions with ever-increasing size and intensity, Auto Frac provides better control and consistent completion execution.”

The ClearTrac tractor. (Image source: Halliburton)

Halliburton has launched the Clear portfolio of electromechanical well intervention technologies and services

This portfolio addresses challenges related to high-angle deployment and includes surface readout telemetry for communication and precise control to deliver differentiated performance. It includes the ClearTrac wireline tractor and ClearCut non-dangerous goods electromechanical pipe cutters. ClearShift high-expansion shifters will also soon be introduced to open and close downhole valves that include barrier isolation devices.

The ClearTrac wireline tractor is an advanced wireline conveyance technology for highly deviated or horizontal wells that require cased-hole logging diagnostics, perforating, and powered mechanical intervention services. It uses an innovative electromechanical drive and real-time telemetry for communication and precise control to deliver unmatched performance compared to pipe-conveyed solutions. ClearTrac wireline tractor achieves speeds from 5 to 125 ft per minute and carries payloads up to 1,000 lbs. with a single-drive section. It provides an economical conveyance solution that acquires data in up-and-down passes. This increases efficiency and reduces the potential for HSE incidents.

The ClearCut service portfolio offers a family of pipe severing tools for a machine shop quality cut without dangerous goods from 2⅜ to 9⅝ in. ClearCut can be deployed on eline or RELAY Digital Slickline and navigate through small restrictions. It cuts outer tubing encapsulated cables in intelligent completions.

With the elimination of explosives and chemicals, ClearCut service provides a safer alternative for complex wireline interventions.

“Our Clear suite of services delivers integrated formation evaluation and intervention solutions to improve production,” said Chris Tevis, vice president of Wireline and Perforating. “Today's launch of our power mechanical services will enable our customers to intervene in their completions in a more reliable, precise and powerful way.”