Using DNP3 To Solve Oil & Gas And Water Remote SCADA Communication Challenges

By Philip Aubin Schneider Electric - Telemetry & Remote SCADA Solutions

The DNP3 protocol has evolved over the last two decades to provide significant advantages for SCADA operations that require communication with remote devices over large distances. This white paper highlights the functionality that has made DNP3 such a powerful tool in telemetry applications in the Oil & Gas and Water & Wastewater industries, looking specifically at how it can be used to address common communication challenges in the respective industries.

Originally developed for the electrical power industry the DNP3 protocol has expanded over the last two decades into industries such as Oil & Gas, Water & Wastewater and Transportation, among others. It has evolved over time with functionalities and capabilities added as the demands of the industries changed and developed with new technologies and requirements. In many areas it has been adopted as a standard.

This paper looks briefly at the features of the DNP3 protocol followed by how these capabilities provide solutions to challenges commonly encountered in the Oil & Gas and Water & Wastewater industries.