The oil and petroleum industry has grown manifolds in the past five decades or more and is still a crucial source of energy requirement. But these industries are also a potential hazard that needs a lot of regular scrutinies to keep safety levels high and prevent not only accidents but also thefts and mischief. So, these places require specialized surveillance systems such as explosion-proof cameras to thwart accidents. These equipment in a sense, are virtual bodyguards that keep an eye on volatile infrastructure such as petroleum or oil rigs where a slight mistake can cause a big blunder. Let’s explore everything about explosion-proof surveillance systems below.
First things first, the word ‘explosion proof’ should not be misconstrued. Here explosion-proof means that these cameras are not built or tested to withstand serious impacts rather, contain any spark, flare or fire that arises from within the camera enclosure. If something goes erratic, the seals, gaskets, stainless steel or other types of barriers that form the part of these cameras can restrain the path of the spark to the outside and prevent igniting nearby places.
Moreover, this camera system comes with international certification such as ATEX or IECEx, which means they are safe to be used in a highly explosive environment.
As mentioned above, Explosion proof cameras serve the special purpose of preventing catastrophic accidents caused by a spark. Hence, these surveillance systems are designed to aid potentially regulated sites, such as onshore oil rigs, where drilling and refining are done regularly.
Below are some of the major areas where explosion-proof surveillance systems can be put to use in petroleum rigs.
The first and foremost aspect of any CCTV security camera is to keep the entire worksite under surveillance, and an ex-proof camera is no exception. Through the help of these cameras, the operator can remotely control the drilling plant for any unusual happening at the worksite through clear and immediate commands.
The plants such as oil drilling rigs are sensitive areas and vulnerable to accidents. These cameras are specially crafted to endure the harshest temperature and the extreme mechanical stress caused by oil drilling. These cameras are capable of capturing minute details in harsh conditions and alert the workers of any impending danger through the audible warning.
The offshore oil platform and other such facilities are critical assets, an investment that potentially returns manifold. So, another real purpose of surveillance cameras is to monitor the actual situation and work progress in these sites. The dynamic real-time monitoring reveals a lot about mud pump fields, drillers, monkey boards, mud tanks, draw works, drilling and power generation equipment.
The system can directly display the operational status of the infrastructure and store the video recording for playback at a later time. This thing cannot be possible with regular CCTV surveillance.
The explosion-proof camera system is an important piece of device which ensures the safety of the drilling rig. These critical sites because of their economic importance can be targets of criminals and terrorist activities as it is difficult to secure large water areas or open regions on the land. Their special night-vision capability can be extremely useful in monitoring critical areas of oil rigs. Some cameras come equipped with a 360-degree feature covering the area from all angles.
It is vital to keep a check on the safety, efficiency and ensure the quality of the drill that could eventually reduce the overall cost. The camera system let the driller check the pipe stripping in and out, and remotely see when a travelling block is reaching the monkey board. It can significantly cut down the labour intensity of the driller and increase accuracy.
Another important aspect of using surveillance systems in oil rigs is to keep the mischievous activities or vandalism under control. If needed, the camera recording can help find out the root cause of the disaster caused by a worker or trespasser, willingly or unwillingly, and take the required precaution to prevent such incidents in the future.
The goal of any company is to automate these critical sites as much as possible. And beyond security, an organization would want to perform a virtual inspection remotely by automating and watching drilling sites in real-time. More than security, monitoring such processes is equally important. If a camera is capable of doing both, it’s like hitting two birds with one stone. SharpEagle offers the ability to manage multiple sites from a single location and get actionable data and real-time alerts to reduce cost and visualize assets in a better way. Through unique surveillance solutions, the brand opens avenues for entrepreneurs looking to expand their business into the oil & gas vertical. For more information about explosion proof camera systems, Schedule a free consultation below..