FourPhase, solids and production performance specialist for the oil and gas sector, has launched The Observer™ an advanced real-time data capture and optimisation tool. Already deployed in five operations across the Gulf of Mexico and the Norwegian Continental Shelf, The Observer™ is set to be rolled out across all FourPhase operations, enabling full remote monitoring. The real-time data it offers is invaluable as more operators are focusing on smart operations driven by data insights.
The Observer™ addresses three key industry challenges: reducing downtime through informed decision-making, optimising equipment maintenance, and facilitating the transition to remote operations. The Observer™ captures real-time data to generate a live operational display in FourPhase’s operations centre. Simultaneously, this data populates online dashboards, accessible to customers worldwide.
Most importantly, The Observer™ is built on a robust security framework. Following a zero-trust security model, The Observer™ complies with ISO 27001, 27017, and 27701 standards. It ensures a secure connection to onshore operations via Starlink or similar technologies. This offers operators a secure channel to send information to the respective onshore operations centres and provides a first step toward remote management and unmanned operations.”Coupled with onsite remote operations, these capabilities are enabling a step-change improvement in offshore sand management. This opens up new opportunities for production optimisation and autonomy that were previously not possible,” says FourPhase CEO Øyvind Heradstveit.
FourPhase has been capturing solids management information since 2013. By utilising its database and simulating operational scenarios, the company has delivered uptime above 99.5% over the last 10 years. The database allows FourPhase to plan new operations by utilising data from real-world field experience as opposed to theoretical values based solely on calculations.
“As the energy industry operates with multiple, often competing, data-sharing standards, we’ve developed The Observer™ as a universal solution, integrating over 300 languages and protocols rather than locking into a single standard. This allows for real-time monitoring across diverse equipment—including Multiphase Flow Meter, the DualFlow Desander, Acoustic Sand Detectors, and client plant data—all simultaneously. The goal is to capture and process data instantly, empowering operators with real-time insights to make informed decisions,” says Jørgen Bruntveit, COO/CTO.
“Many competitors claim real-time monitoring, yet their systems often suffer from minute-long delays and cumbersome designs—some as large as a server rack. The Observer™ delivers true real-time monitoring in a form factor small enough to hold in one hand,” adds Bruntveit.
Although real-time condition monitoring and data-driven optimisation are now standard in numerous production-related processes, sand management largely depends on labour-intensive legacy workflows. This reliance hinders the adoption of autonomous platforms and low-manning concepts. FourPhase has bridged this gap by investing heavily in remote monitoring technology. As a result, The Observer™ now enables comprehensive oversight of its entire fleet, including desanders.