Woodside Launches LNG Smart Tag

RAMP RFID & Woodside have introduced the first Woodside LNG Smart Tag (or W-Tag). The W-Tag follows a two-year innovative research program with Curtin University called project ‘Echo’, where a number of innovative lean construction technologies were evaluated to enhance the efficiency of LNG megaproject construction and operations.

Initiated in 2011 by Woodside Energy Ltd, project ‘ECHO’ research utilizes leading-edge technologies to improve productivity and performance in LNG construction projects. The system was designed to enhance the end-user experience, by providing more information, real-time, using a variety of mobile devices and applications. From workers, to supervisors and project managers, the systems extract information from a number of sources and deliver it directly to the end-user via a variety of mobile tablets and devices. Depending on the end user’s role, the system provides information from any number of associated attributes including 2D / 3D drawings, specifications, installation manuals, inspection requirements and schedule information.

The development of the W-Tag was a result of the collaboration between Woodside’s Martijn Truijens and RAMP’s Alastair McArthur. It is the world’s first IECEX certified dual technology smart tag suitable for the oil and gas industry. The ability to read and write to the tag memory from long distance is unparalleled by any other tag in the market today. The W-Tag features high visibility, long range active RFID, 5 year battery life, back-up passive RFID and barcodes, with IP68 rating, and IECEX & ATEX certified.

The W-Tag will be launched at the Woodside operated Karratha Gas Plant. Operators from Europe, Asia, North and South America have expressed interest in the trials.

Ramp RFID will be participating in the research project by providing products and services to enable additional visibility into the construction materials tracking process. Ramp RFID will also implement an advanced system for research and development of RFID tracking technologies for lean construction, utilizing the W-Tag and Intelliwave’s powerful SiteSense software platform.

During the course of the project, benefits such as the time and costs associated with errors, rework, omissions, waste, slips and lapses made by workers have been significantly reduced using this fully integrated system.

“Bringing technologies and people together to provide construction productivity is core to Ramp’s mission,” said Kevin Cohen, CEO, Ramp RFID. “We are honored to be part of this groundbreaking effort that will clearly change the face of LNG construction projects going forward.”

Ramp RFID will be participating in a simulation activity at the Challenger Institute of Technology in collaboration with Curtin University.