Oil & Gas sector

For many years, SimTec specialists have been implementing projects for the oil and gas industry. Our engineers are highly respected in the industry and have extensive experience in implementing some of the world's largest projects. Since 2005, our specialists have participated in over 30 projects for various drilling, production, and accommodation platforms located around the world. We also provide service support for Petrobaltic platforms.

In 2005, SimTec Sp. z o.o. employees participated in the modernization of the control system for a group of three drilling rigs, as part of a large international team. The modernization involved replacing approximately 150 S5-155U controllers running the old TELEPERM M system with 100 new AS-400 controllers (CPU-417H) using PCS7 v6.1. The master systems were modernized with six redundant PCS7 servers, 24 operator stations, and graphical walls. Our task was to write software for the AS-400, WinCC visualization, and conduct IAT/FAT acceptance testing. Acceptance testing was conducted using process simulators and the SIMBA toolkit, which enables object modeling and simulation on a Profibus bus. The software had to be well-written and tested to ensure that the replacement of the old system with the new one would occur without interrupting the drilling rig's production – the daily production value of the rig exceeded the cost of the migration. According to Siemens, this project was the largest PCS7 system implementation worldwide at the time. Since then, SimTec has been involved in numerous projects for offshore platforms around the world.

The highest quality demands had to be fulfilled - a requirement from the customer was to complete the changeover on a running platform, without stopping the production. 

According to Siemens recourses, that time it was the biggest implementation of PCS7 system in the world.

For many years, we have been modernizing, expanding, and servicing S7-400H WinCC and PCS7 system software for PKN ORLEN's biodiesel production plants. The latest expansion includes the UCO FAME (Used Cooked Oil - production of esters from used cooking oils) installation and a glycerin purification plant. Due to the facility's expansion, redundant WinCC servers and virtualized OS Client operator stations were introduced, and the entire system works seamlessly with the redundant AS400H PLC system. During the recent migration to the latest version, a DMZ was also built to ensure the plant's cybersecurity. Based on a virtualization server with a front/back firewall, the following stations were implemented: WSUS, WEC, Syslog, RDP, Management Console, and Trellix ePO. All network traffic was mirrored using Port Mirroring (SPAN PORT) and made available to the Nozomi IDS environment.

Biodiesel is a plant-based biofuel used in diesel engines.

In this regard, we cooperate with the German technology company AT (Agrar-Technik Int.GmbH), which results in further jointly implemented projects for the construction of further production lines and distillation of UCOFAME methyl esters. AT AGRAR-TECHNIK (at-agrartechnik.de)