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Petroleum industry

Technology Watch from The Data Room: OSIsoft European User Group October 2008

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

The 2008 OSIsoft User Group conference brought together over 650 professionals from diverse industries, including water, chemicals, oil and gas, and pharmaceuticals, to discuss the integration of legacy control systems with information technology and the business network. The conference highlighted the importance of a unified data infrastructure in optimizing plant operations, with a focus on OSIsoft's PI System as the central point of plant and IT systems integration. Keynote speakers and client presentations showcased real-world applications of the PI System, including Shell's Production Portal Architecture and Bayer's PI enterprise infrastructure.

Key Takeaways:

  • The 2008 OSIsoft User Group conference was attended by around 650 professionals, representing a diverse range of industries, with a strong presence from oil and gas, water, and chemicals sectors.
  • The conference emphasized the importance of integrating legacy control systems with information technology and the business network, with a focus on data infrastructure as the key to optimization.
  • OSIsoft's PI System was highlighted as the central point of plant and IT systems integration, with a strong emphasis on monitoring and recording historical data.
  • The use of Microsoft's supporting applications, such as SharePoint with its WebParts and OSIsoft's own RtWebParts, was also showcased as a growing trend.
  • Strategic partnerships between OSIsoft and companies like Microsoft, SAP, and DCS vendors were noted, as well as the development of an ecosystem around the PI System.
  • Real-world applications of the PI System, such as Shell's Production Portal Architecture and Bayer's PI enterprise infrastructure, were presented as best practices for plant optimization.
  • The growing popularity of smart grid technologies was highlighted through Xcel Energy's involvement in "Smart Grid City" in Boulder, Colorado.
  • The importance of control system security was emphasized, with Waterfall Technologies presenting a product that offers a compelling solution to secure integration of control systems with IT.

Statistics:

  • Around 650 professionals attended the 2008 OSIsoft User Group conference.
  • OSIsoft's workforce was around 1,000, with about 100 personnel attending the conference, which is approximately 1/6th of the company's workforce.
  • The conference featured client presentations from a range of companies, including Shell, Total, RasGas, NiSource, and NAM.
  • The PI System was used by companies like Saudi Aramco, which had 2 million tags linked to the system.
  • The growing trend of using Microsoft's supporting applications, such as SharePoint with its WebParts, was noted.
  • The number of companies invested in SCADA, DCS, and PI Systems, like Xcel Energy, which is involved in "Smart Grid City" in Boulder, Colorado.

Sources:

  • Research and Markets, "Technology Watch from The Data Room: OSIsoft European User Group October 2008 - Amsterdam, Netherlands Conference"
  • OSIsoft, "PI System" documentation
  • Microsoft, "SharePoint with WebParts" documentation
  • SAP, "SAP and OSIsoft partnership" documentation
  • Waterfall Technologies, "PI-Waterfall DCS/IT security" product documentation

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