WellAware was exploring the market for a reliable solution for collecting data from its customers’ remote well locations. According to WellAware CEO, Matt Harrison, the company’s customers have a tremendous need to tap into the intelligence provided by the digital oilfield. In selecting a provider for its network, WellAware compared the features of an array of communication technologies. Cellular provided adequate coverage, but at the rate of $25-$50 per month per device, the cost was extremely high. Satellite was even more expensive, in excess of $100 per month per device. As a typical oilfield consists of more than 1,000 wells, implementation of these technologies would quickly become cost-prohibitive. Additionally, cellular and satellite technologies were only able to deliver between 85-95 percent data availability and were not able to transmit data at sub-minute frequencies. This was not sufficient to meet the reliability expectations of WellAware’s customers.

N.V. Elmar had initiated a project to implement a smart grid network across the entire island. The enhanced grid would streamline electricity distribution processes and provide N.V. Elmar’s customers with access to usage data which would result in more efficient use of power and services. Although the initial network deployment was designed for smart electric meters, N.V. Elmar wanted to have the ability to scale the network to add additional applications. Because this was essentially a greenfield project, the deployment process would start with a pilot program where various technologies would be evaluated. Cost, network longevity, coverage and reliability were all factors in the selection process.