January 2010 Vol. 237 No. 1

Web Exclusive

Honeywell Buys Rights to Shell Field Data Technology

Honeywell announced Jan. 13 that it has acquired rights to technology developed by Shell for gathering field data, intended to help industrial plants to safely increase production while reducing maintenance and operating costs.

The operational and technical task for efficient rounds (OTTER) technology is currently used in more than 25 sites to help guide field operators in field surveillance tasks that keep assets running within safe operating limits and at optimum performance. It also “delivers best practices to all field operators; provides decision support capabilities; improves regulatory reporting and facilitates communication between groups to address problems immediately.”

Honeywell will integrate the OTTER technology in its operational excellence solutions to help customers optimize plant performance and comply with health, safety and environment regulations.

Shell uses the OTTER technology as part of its Ensure Safe Production (ESP) program. The company says the ESP program has significantly reduced its unplanned downtime and process safety incidents and is being rolled out to its facilities globally.