A New Network for the Industry 4.0 era with ORYX GTL
Published: October 24, 2024
ORYX GTL, a Qatar-based downstream oil and gas company, has been producing high-quality products, since 2006 by converting natural gas into synthetic gas, and ultimately into liquid hydrocarbons. Located in Ras Laffan Industrial City, Qatar, the ORYX GTL Plant is the first of its kind in the world to use proprietary technology to convert natural gas to liquid fuel.
As a result, the company is considered a renowned expert in the field with the necessary infrastructure and capabilities to meet very specific market requirements for providing environmentally friendly diesel, naphtha, and LPG.
ORYX GTL prides itself on the use of technology and innovation to ensure the stability of the plant and mitigate potential hazards. High-tech equipment is responsible for enhancing the efficiency, reliability, and productivity of the plant which is run by a dedicated team of technicians and engineers.
“Availability, reliability and safety are crucial to us. Our entire technological focus is how we can innovatively use our capabilities to run our operations better, faster and in a way that guarantees the ongoing production of our premium products”
Challenges
- Complex network that needed to connect three sites
- Lack of visibility into network operations
- Small IT team with absolutely no room for error or downtime
Extreme Solutions
- Extreme Fabric
- Universal Switching
- ExtremeCloud IQ Site Engine
- ExtremeWireless
- NAC
Results
- Simplified network traffic management across three sites
- Dependable always-on network.
- Seamless transition from legacy infrastructure due to ExtremeCloud IQ Site Engine.
- Ability to run IoT technologies and open new potential related to Industry 4.0
Seamless operations at the plant depend on the constant communication and information exchange between the 4 main sites: Woqod Tower, Ras Lafan ODC and DR – which are handled by the fully converged ICT and ICS Network Team. However, given the massive scope of operational complexity at ORYX GTL and the sensitivity of the plant, the team required a simpler way to manage the network traffic between sites taking into consideration ICS security requirements.
ORYX GTL then worked with Extreme Networks in 2019 to implement a Fabric-enabled network that would not only operate under a single protocol, thus simplifying operations, but also ensure a 24/7 always-on network.
“We were facing network traffic issues, and due to the fact that you can only have limited personnel on-site, we needed a network solution that would effectively run itself, needing as little human intervention as possible,”.
Initially, the company chose to first move its IT (Information Technology) under the Fabric network. This would guarantee them almost 100% uptime with only a small maintenance window needed each year for necessary updates or configuration. In addition, Fabric’s secure segmentation allowed implementation to be done in a phased approach – minimizing any downtime for important services while the transition was taking place.
"The hyper segmentation of the Fabric Connect solution is a game-changer. Not only did it allow for a smooth, seamless shift of our OT sensors and productional technology to the new network environment but now, five years later, we are protected from any lateral cyber-attacks. This has tremendous impact as it more or less eliminates the loss of millions of dollars, should any one of our critical services be shut down."
Further reducing the need for unnecessary shutdowns during the transition, Extreme Networks deployed its XIQ-SE to ensure continuity between the legacy infrastructure and new environment. Capable of supporting third-party devices, XIQ-SE provided end-to-end network management, task automation, analytics during the shift.
Once the Fabric network was up and running, the team then looked at wireless integration. ORYX GTL wanted an uninterrupted experience for both wired and wireless users using the network to avoid any disruption and to increase network bandwidth. By combining the two, Extreme Networks extended Fabric features by making the access points operate in a plug and play mode. This essentially meant no configuration, automatic updates and absolute minimum human intervention, freeing up the IT team for more priority tasks.
“Having both wired and wireless integrated under the same vendor allowed us to add a layer of convenience and control that means we can trust completely in the stability of our network operations. Our IT team handles extremely sensitive tasks, and the operation of our plant depends on the reliability of the network experience,” said Kuthubdeen.
Since the integration, ORYX GTL has managed to fully capitalize on its network capabilities. Using advanced sensors and applications, the network uses IoT technology to fully run the plant equipment and operations related to gas liquefication. This includes vital aspects such as monitoring, self-correcting parameters and analysis.
With these tools, and the guarantee of a smooth-running, frictionless network, ORYX GTL continues in it journey to innovate gas liquefication and add value to the Qatari economy.
“I think people underestimate how much a powerful network can be capable of. With our advanced technologies and the digital foundation Extreme Networks has given us, we are in a prime position to explore more Industry 4.0 potential and fine-tune our operations by doing what we do best. By trusting in our network, the sky is the limit when it comes to the digital advancements we can introduce”, said Rahman.