Originally introduced in small numbers at the request of a dedicated group of BP innovators, site managers and field technicians out of the Canadian, TX field office in the Anadarko Basin, Andium Truck WiFi™ units are now deployed in hundreds of BP Lower 48 Onshore vehicles across six regions in three states. Following that original implementation and the favorable customer feedback that followed, demand for Andium Truck WiFi™ systems has grown dramatically. The answer to the question of why these solutions have met with such an increasing demand stems from the idea that to integrate and embrace Industrial Internet of Things (IoT) innovations emerging in the marketplace, BP Lower 48 Onshore recognized that they needed to ensure reliable multi-spectrum connectivity across their vehicle fleet. Andium Truck WiFi™ solved that problem through a rapidly expanding set of reliable, powerful and low-cost software as a service (SAAS) solutions which ensure connectivity for command and control communications from vehicle fleets operating in remote areas.

As more technicians in the upstream, midstream and downstream energy sectors use handheld technology devices such as ruggedized laptops or tablets in their routine operations, the greater the requirement for remote connectivity with their team. In an upstream context, these communications could be the request for clarification on a piece of maintenance from a subject matter expert not on-site or the participation in an important meeting by teleconference or video-teleconference, each type requires a reliable, secure and fast connection to the internet.

The case study of BP Lower 48 Onshore division’s rapid integration of Andium Truck WiFi™ systems into their vehicle fleet is an especially clear example of the strong return on investment associated with an improved remote connectivity capability. In her 18 Sep 17 article for the Houston Business Journal entitled, “How BP turned a pickup truck into a mobile data center,” Denver Business Journal reporter Cathy Proctor describes the rapid and successful integration of Andium Truck Wi-Fi, and other mobile solutions, through an interview with BP Lower 48 Onshore COO Brian Pugh.

…he [Mr. Pugh] said.

…Pugh said. And that connectivity has spawned a sea change in the company’s ability to get expertise to the wellhead. … The shift — from a remote, unconnected field tech to one who can communicate instantly with experts in the office — occurred in about six months in the Mid-Continent area Pugh said.'

Since the original pilot program in West Texas, Andium has sourced 292 (as of 18 Oct 17) Truck WiFi systems to BP in the Anadarko, Arkoma, Eastern Texas, Durango, Farmington and Wamsutter basins across Colorado, New Mexico, Texas and Oklahoma. These systems are allowing BP technicians to be more efficient with their time at remote sites, and more connected while on-site than ever. Occasionally, the robust connectivity that Andium Truck WiFi™ delivers has even been used in exigent circumstances. Feedback from BP has related that Andium systems were even used by senior BP executives in Houston to facilitate continued business operations in certain cases following the devastating effects of Hurricane Harvey.