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Oil Platform Network using CWDM

A worldwide Oil exploration and production company wanted to update their historic TDM network, combining Voice and Data services, between three Platforms operating in the North Sea and their on-shore base in Aberdeen. A critical Power Management control and alarm system was required to run in parallel with the conventional Voice and Data network, all via very limited fibre links between the company's Platforms.

The existing network was based on a combination of obsolete Nortel equipment and custom designed equipment provided by Metrodata Ltd. nearly 20 years previously. The replacement network comprised a highly resilient fibre ring architecture, using Passive CWDM technology. The use of CWDM meant that the replacement network could be implemented over a spare single fibre pair and proven without de-commissioning the existing network, ensuring an absolute minimum down time. Simultaneously, the data network was upgraded to Gigabit Ethernet.

Metrodata Network Solutions provided a full turnkey solution including some bespoke development to current generation products from Metrodata Ltd, together with integration of Voice and Data via Passive CWDM multiplexers from SmartOptics.

Each of the individual applications of Voice, Data and Alarm/control signaling use separate transmission wavelengths over the fibre links and so in future they can be individually updated without affecting the rest of the network. Monitoring ports and test equipment have also been provided so that the network can be pro-actively checked without interfering with any of the live applications.

Passive CWDM multiplexer/demultiplexer devices not only offer great flexibility and economy of fibre usage but, being completely unpowered, also offer the highest levels of reliability whilst being very eco-friendly.

For the indepth case study please look at the follwing PDF: Multi Service Resilient Fibre Networking via CWDM