Surgutneftegaz (oil & gas) metering system (1997-2000)

January 2, 2000 Surgutneftegaz is the leading oil & gas companies in Russia. With the installation of the new metering system Surgutneftegas managed to reduce companies expenses in electricity consumption considerably.

Surgutneftegaz – one of the leading oil & gas companies in Russia.

Starting point:
In recent years, Surgutneftegaz, like all other Oil and Gas companies, was facing the problem associated with a raised share of expenses in the cost of oil.

Main objective: Cut down the cost of oil at the expense of comprehensive updating of electricity metering
One of the ways to raise the efficiency of energy management at the enterprise is mainly associated with energy resources demand metering, and particularly, the electrical energy. That was the reason why Surgutneftegaz took a decision to carry out comprehensive updating of electricity metering through installation of digital time-of-use meters and organization of advanced automated meter reading system (AMR).

Integrated solution: Installation of time-of-use meters and AMR system introduction
The updating was carried out by stages and finally has been introduced throughout Surgutneftegaz AMR system.

At the first stage of the project the master power-supply sources and some one-part consumers
were provided with 2,000 ALPHA meters. The ALPHA meters developed by ABB VEI Metronica were accepted for application as the result of comparison of all electricity metering products available on the market with regard to such features as price/quality, functional capabilities and operation within the AMR system. The ALPHA meters provide electricity and power metering with an accuracy of 0,2S, bidirectional active and reactive energy measurements, storage of billing data for a period of up to 6 months and have digital interfaces for their integration into metering system.

The second stage – integrated AlphaMet solution.
The important task to be solved at the first stage of the ALPHA meters introduction was the formation of a basis for introduction of the AMR system that would be capable of energy and power demand management. In the framework of the AMR system development it has been decided to collect the ALPHA meter readings via various communication channels using the AlphaMet system.

The AMR system allows to perform:

• Active and reactive energy demand metering (including reverse flows) for given time intervals including individual meters, preassigned groups of meters and the whole enterprise with due regard for the time-of-use capability.
• Calculate average (half-hourly) active power (load) values during day- and night-time maximum demand periods including individual meters, preassigned groups of meters and the whole enterprise.
• Generate half-hourly and, if required, three-minute load patterns needed to organize efficient power consumption at the enterprise.

Surgutneftegaz made use of several standard versions of the AMR system organization with regard to the enterprise specific features:

AMR for meters interrogation via optical port
The system of this type was used when the meters were spaced at too large distances, and communication channels were unavailable. In this case the number of meters is not limited since the interrogation is performed “individually” by means of a portable computer via Unicom Probe cable.

AMR for meters interrogation via multiplexer
For this AMR type the meters interrogation is performed by means of ABB multiplexer which provides possibility for connection of up to 16 meters. In this case the meters are placed at a distance of 1-1.5 km from the computer to which a multiplexer is connected.

AMR for meters interrogation via modem
This way of the system organization was realized at substations having reliable communication channels, the meters were integrated by means of a multiplexer and were placed at a distance of not above 1.5 km from the local computer.

Final results:
Remarkable economic efficiency and reduced cost of oil. Today, the ALPHAMet system collects and processes data coming from over 2000 energy meters. For the first time, after the meters were installed at master substations, there were obtained virtually true data on the demand quantities and patterns. The forecasting accuracy in energy and power demand remarkably increased and became much more simple.

Expertise in ALPHA meters and AMR system operation at Surgutneftegaz testified to considerable economic efficiency of their application amounting to 88 thous. rubles per one meter p.a. It was attained due to:

• Modernization of commercial and technical billing.
• Remarkable costs reduction due to strict power supervision.
• High forecasting accuracy in probable future demand.
• Optimization of electrical networks performance at the expense of cutting down active energy and power demand.
• Limitations of the power system peak hours active power demand.

A fairly important consequence of the meters and the system introduction is an ever-growing mutual confidence between OAO “Surgutneftegaz” and the Surgut power utilities (who have also installed the AlphaMet system). This became possible due to strict meter data readout supervision mutually performed by the enterprise and by the power utility. Now both, the roducer and the customer only enjoy advantages from mutually beneficial cooperation. The former enjoys significant savings in energy demand, and the latter has a reliable client who timely clears the electric bills.