ABB Integrates KEPServerEX® from Kepware® to Support First-of-its-Kind Coal Seam Gas Project

Prominent power and automation company utilizes leading communications platform to automate and scale well site data collection

News provided by

Kepware Technologies

Apr 28, 2015, 08:13 ET

PORTLAND, Maine, April 28, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Kepware^® Technologies, a software development company focused on communications for automation, announced today that leading power and automation company, ABB, has integrated KEPServerEX^® with its flagship product, 800xA Integrated Control and Safety System (ICSS). Selected as the main automation contractor for the world's first operation focused on converting gas from coal seams into liquefied natural gas, ABB utilizes Kepware's highly flexible and reliable communications platform to meet the project's demanding scalability needs.

Widely regarded as a leading innovator of clean and efficient energy solutions, ABB has undertaken this project in an effort to develop more environmentally-friendly fuels. As part of the operation, the company introduces several new wells on a daily basis that have between 50 and 70 data points being scanned on a 30 second cycle time. These requirements necessitate the ability to bring wells on and off line in a highly streamlined and efficient manner.

To ensure ABB could reliably configure these well sites and retrieve the vast amounts of data they produce, the company integrated Kepware's KEPServerEX communications platform. With its library of over 150 PLC, RTU, and device-type drivers, KEPServerEX helps users connect, manage, monitor, and control diverse automation devices and software applications through one user interface. Its robust functionality enabled ABB to scale the project without learning new communications protocols or introducing other applications. Furthermore, with the ability to import and export KEPServerEX configuration information in an easy-to-understand XML format, ABB has a simple, scalable, and reliable method for configuring new wells.

"With KEPServerEX, we were able to automate a traditionally manual process associated with bringing wells online—and with this particular project's expansion speed, we had no time physically to provision wells," said Mike Oakley, Consultant Engineer, ABB Ltd. "KEPServerEX worked seamlessly with our flagship control system so that a single button click would have the potential to bring hundreds of wells on or off line in mere minutes."

For additional information about the implementation, please read the complete ABB case study here.

About Kepware, Inc.
Kepware Technologies is a private software development company headquartered in Portland, Maine. Kepware provides a portfolio of software solutions to help businesses connect diverse automation devices and software applications. From plant floor to wellsite to windfarm, Kepware serves a wide range of customers in a variety of vertical markets including Manufacturing, Oil & Gas, Building Automation, Power & Utilities, and more. Established in 1995 and now distributed in more than 100 countries, Kepware's software solutions help thousands of businesses improve operations and decision making. Learn more at www.kepware.com.

About ABB
ABB (www.abb.com) is a leader in power and automation technologies that enable utility, industry, and transport and infrastructure customers to improve their performance while lowering environmental impact. The ABB Group of companies operates in roughly 100 countries and employs about 140,000 people worldwide.

Media Contact:

Ryan Lilly
978.518.4533
[email protected]
www.matternow.com

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130402/NE86794LOGO

SOURCE Kepware Technologies