How Wireless M2M is Growing at 20% in Oil & Gas Sector

According to the latest research report from the analyst firm Berg Insight, the number of devices featuring cellular or satellite connectivity deployed in oil & gas applications worldwide was 0.5 million at the end of 2014. Growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 20.1 percent, this number is expected to reach 1.25 million units by 2019.

The split between cellular and satellite based M2M devices at the end of the forecast period will be 0.99 million units and 0.27 million units respectively.

The oil & gas industry is characterized by remote and inaccessible facilities where wireless communication in many cases is the only viable option for transferring M2M data. Mintek is providing its innovative solutions to the Environmental, Construction, Agricultural, Oil & Gas, Waste Water Treatment, Industrial markets & more.

Pipeline monitoring and tank monitoring are the top two M2M applications in the midstream and downstream segments while on-shore well field equipment is the most common wireless application in the oil & gas upstream segment.

Wireless M2M solutions have become increasingly popular in oil & gas applications in the past few years. The main drivers for adoption are safety and environmental concerns, regulatory compliance and demand for improved operational efficiency.

“In 2014, M2M solutions in the oil & gas market experienced very healthy growth levels before slowing down at the end of the year when oil prices reached half of previous levels”, said Johan Svanberg, Senior Analyst, Berg Insight.

North America is the leading region for wireless M2M in oil & gas and energy producers in the region were particularly affected by the price drops which resulted in halted investments. This change in the market has however led to an increased focus on cost savings and efficiency. He adds that new technology and solutions with a demonstrated high ROI are prioritised, especially when combined with Solution-as-a-Service business models which minimise the initial investment.

Automation, remote control and monitoring are extra important in order to make it cost effective to extract, transport and distribute unconventional resources such as shale gas and tight oil. Major M2M companies, oil & gas M2M specialists and global industrial technology companies are active on the wireless M2M application market in the oil & gas industry.

Sierra Wireless, Digi International, Orbcomm and Numerex are major M2M players that deliver solutions to a wide range of industries including oil & gas. FreeWave Technologies is an important vendor of M2M private radio solutions to the North American upstream and midstream oil & gas markets.

Pason Systems and Zedi are Canadian based companies which are major vendors of specialized field instrumentation, equipment, services and M2M solutions for the upstream and midstream segments. CriticalControl, Elecsys, ZTR Control Systems, eLynx Technologies, Willowglen Systems, Oleumtech, AMCi Wireless, DataOnline and American Innovation are providers of specialised wireless M2M solutions for remote control, monitoring and automation in oil & gas. Tanklink, ISA, Sensile Technologies, Silentsoft, Powelectrics and Silicon Controls are major vendors of remote monitoring solutions for storage tanks in the downstream segment.

Other important players are global technology and automation companies. Online Electronics, Emerson, Siemens, General Electric, Schneider Electric, Honeywell, ABB and Rockwell Automation are all major providers of wireless control solutions to the oil & gas industry.