Industrial Automation – Physical Measurement
From oil platforms to auto parts manufacturing, the how-to of industrial network protection is improving in this post-Stuxnet world. Given the high cost of downtime, the motivation is to minimize any shutdowns associated with networks and electronics.
Read the story at Continued…
Posted in Worms and Threats.
– May 15, 2012
America’s longtime counterterrorism czar warns that the cyberwars have already begun—and that we might be losing
Read more at: www.smithsonianmag.com/history-archaeology/Richard-Clarke-on-Who-Was-Behind-the-Stuxnet-Attack.html?c=y&page=1″
Posted in Worms and Threats.
– April 26, 2012
By Zack Whittaker | March 14, 2012, 4:30am PDT
Summary: London-based BBC has been victim of a cyber-attack by Iranian authorities, claims the director-general of world’s largest broadcaster in a speech given later today.
From ZDnet ( http://www.zdnet.com/blog/london/bbc-suffers-sophisticated-iranian-cyber-attack/3448)
The BBC, the largest broadcaster in the world, has suffered what is described as a “sophisticated” cyber-attack by the Iranian authorities against its Persian service, director-general Mark Thompson said.
Attempts were made to jam satellite feeds into Iran and overrun its London headquarters with automated phone calls, Reuters reports.
In a speech later today at the Royal Television Society later, Thompson will describe how the Iranian government attempted to “undermine” the state broadcasting service, as the breakaway nation may be “widening their tactics” by using technology as a weapon.
“There was a day recently when there was a simultaneous attempt to jam two different satellite feeds of BBC Persian into Iran, to disrupt the service’s London phone lines by the use of multiple automatic calls, and a sophisticated cyber-attack on the BBC,” the speech reads.
“It is difficult, and may prove impossible, to confirm the source of these attacks, though attempted jamming of BBC services into Iran is nothing new and we regard the coincidence of these different attacks as self-evidently suspicious.”
The broadcaster has a number of non-UK services that broadcast around the world, including BBC World Service, which is available globally, and BBC Persian which operates in and around Iran.
While the BBC is banned from entering or broadcasting in the country, illegal satellite receivers can still pick up the broadcasts from London. BBC staff work outside of the country, but its journalists have been known to enter regions where they are knowingly restricted from accessing.
Iran and the United Kingdom have suffered difficult diplomatic relations as of late, as the government continues to repress its citizens and freedoms in the country. And Iran isn’t any better.
The Iranian government has come under fire by Western nations for harassing and detaining native and foreign journalists in the country.
“Arrest without charge, solitary confinement, threats and inducements to persuade their relations either to leave the service or to inform on it secretly to Iranian intelligence: this is how the Iranian government is trying to undermine the BBC Persian Service,” Thompson will say.
Image source: BBC.
http://www.zdnet.com/blog/london/bbc-suffers-sophisticated-iranian-cyber-attack/3448
Posted in Worms and Threats.
– March 14, 2012
The goal of the DHS National Cyber Security Division’s CSSP is to reduce industrial control system risks within and across all critical infrastructure and key resource sectors by coordinating efforts among federal, state, local, and tribal governments, as well as industrial control systems owners, operators and vendors. The CSSP coordinates activities to reduce the likelihood of success and severity of impact of a cyber attack against critical infrastructure control systems through risk-mitigation activities.
CSSP has released Version 4.0.1 of the Cyber Security Evaluation Tool (CSETTM). This new version of the tool can be downloaded. This new release includes new standards such as NERC CIP Revision 3, NRC Regulatory Guide 5.71, a new key requirements set, and Version 7 of the DHS “Catalog of Security Requirements: Recommendations for Standards Developers.” The new CSETTM also includes a fully revised set of reports with complete gap rankings, new diagramming functionality, and a new resource library as well as minor enhancements. This tool supports evaluations of both business and industrial control systems.
ICS-CERT has released several documents outling the vulnerabilities of some control systems
ICS-CERT has released an Advisory titled “ICSA-12-047-01 – Advantech WebAccess Multiple Vulnerabilities” that details 18 vulnerabilities in the Advantech BroadWin WebAccess product.
ICS-CERT has released an ALERT titled “ICS-ALERT-12-046-01 – Increasing Threat to Industrial Control Systems” to inform critical infrastructure and key resource (CIKR) asset owners and operators of recent and ongoing activity concerning increased risk to CIKR assets, particularly Internet accessible control systems.
ICS-CERT has released an UPDATED ALERT titled “ICS-Alert-12-020-02A – Rockwell Automation ControlLogix Multiple PLC Vulnerabilities” that warns of multiple exploit modules targeting the Ethernet/IP and TCP/IP protocol stacks in PLCs has been released.
ICS-CERT has released an UPDATED ALERT titled “ICS-ALERT-12-020-03A – (UPDATED) Schneider Electric Modicon Quantum Vulnerabilities” that warns that exploit code affecting the Schneider Electric Modicon Quantum product has been released.
ICS-CERT has released an UPDATED ALERT titled “ICS-ALERT-12-020-05A – Koyo ECOM100 Multiple Vulnerabilities” that warns about a brute force password cracking tool targeting the ECOM series modules has been released.
Posted in Viruses, Worms and Threats.
– February 17, 2012
Renard Klubnik with Meggitt Sensing (Wilcoxon Research) was a panelist in Chemical Processing’s Condition Monitoring- Key Tools & Solutions to Enhance Operations.
What should you be doing to bring your condition monitoring program up-to-date? Today, plants are increasing their efforts to monitor the condition of key assets to identify potential problems before they negatively affect operational performance, damage equipment or lead to costly downtime. This discussion will cover key tools and solutions to enhance operations, optimize efficiencies, improve asset life and boost overall reliability.
Originally recorded February 16, 2012, the Condition Monitoring – Key Tools & Solutions to Enhance Operations, webinar is now available in archive. To view the Webinar now, click the following link:
http://webcast.streamlogics.com/audience/index.asp?eventid=60911195
Posted in Application Notes, Sensors.
– February 17, 2012
A recent article published on Rigzone on the implementation of radio frequency identification (RFID) technology in platform operations offshore Mexico stirred controversy among readers concerning their privacy in the workplace.
RFID has been used in a number of industries to track inventory, including the retail industry, livestock, and transportation industries; the oil and gas industry has implemented RFID in recent years not only to track inventory, but to address the issues of safety and non-productive time. This technology also is being used in drilling technology to allow producers to remote automate drilling operations.
More…http://www.rigzone.com/news/article.asp?hpf=1&a_id=114884
Posted in Uncategorized.
– February 7, 2012
CAS DataLoggers recently provided the data acquisition solution for a state-owned oil and gas company located in Eastern Europe involved in developing natural gas in distant gas fields. The gas came out of a wellhead for processing in either of two dehydration plants. These plants extract water from the gas before sending it through a compressor station and then pumping it through the pipeline system. However, since the two dehydration plants were based in a remote location, the company needed a standalone data acquisition and logging system to record production and process data from the plant and also to gain remote access to all recorded data. This system would have to be able to perform high-precision measurements and also feature sophisticated alarm and programming capabilities enabling the device to process measurements and initiate actions on its own.
Plant management decided to install a Delphin TopMessage Data Acquisition System in each of the two dehydration plants. Additionally, one ADVT module with 15 analog inputs and one IOIT module with 24digital inputs for status monitoring were also installed in each plant. The TopMessages were then interfaced via Ethernet LAN to a MoRoS UMTS router to provide remote access functions. In case of an accident in hazardous areas, each complete system was then fitted inside an explosion-proof box outfitted with EX barriers. Within its protective enclosure, each Delphin TopMessage was then interfaced to 3 tank level transmitters using a 4-20mA analog output signal, and also to 3 gas volume conversion devices from VEGA through an RS-422 Modbus RTU interface (see Figure 1).\
Figure 1: Functional Application Architecture
The TopMessage data acquisition device was capable of both Ethernet networking as well as direct PC connection (P2P). Its analog inputs could be attached to RTD sensors, thermocouples, volt or 20 mA signals, enabling any physical value to be acquired as needed. The measurement data was saved as scaled and linearized to the device, and scaling was pre-configured for all current thermocouple and RTD sensor types. The maximum 24-bit resolution measurement accuracy enabled high-precision measurements without the need for any signal amplification. Each TopMessage device could be equipped with up to 30 analog inputs or 48 digital inputs, with any possible combination of I/O modules.
Ideal for many different data logging, data acquisition and testing applications, Delphin TopMessage systems perform tasks in the fields of process technology, test engineering, and research and development, offering quick and reliable signal processing from a few thermocouples up to thousands of
measurement points spread out over the plant. 1 GB of local memory stored all readings. Housed in its sturdy explosion-proof enclosure, the TopMessage system featured slots for analog or digital input or output cards, as well as n Ethernet interface and CANbus for expansion modules. Screw terminal
connections provide secure connections and reliable operation. Additionally, the TopMessage’s small size of 200 x 118 x 90mm made for a quick installation.
The dehydration plant operator based in the save area had a local monitoring PC running Delphin’s free ProfiSignal Klicks software. ProfiSignal Klicks offered a user-friendly development system for programming the data recording and reporting functions with no specialized IT knowledge required. The software also contained functions for automating processes and generating user-defined reports. Operators used the software’s mimic panel to monitor plant performance and also set up input screens for test parameters, test sequences and reports through the Klicks automation programming language. This provided engineers with a flexible software tool for generating their own complete applications. Utilizing the UMTS router, the control room operator at the head office had remote access at all times to the data from the TopMessage device and could see live data and downloaded data from the system memory. Additionally, the data download could be automated by using the scheduler function of the DataService Configurator. The dehydration plant itself was covered by an EDGE G2 mobile communication network.
The oil and gas company gained several benefits from installing the Delphin TopMessage dataacquisition system in each of its two dehydration plants. The TopMessage data acquisition device, equipped with the UMTS router, served as an effective solution for this application covering all requirements. Additionally, the TopMessage’s compact size made the system easy to install in the explosion-proof box to guarantee its safety. Additionally, remote access was easily configured with the UMTS router, which also provided networking functions or local PCs and printers. The TopMessage system itself supported many serial interface standards so that VEGA Scan EK220 volume conversion units could be interfaced. The popular ProfiSignal Klicks software was included free to develop an operator user interface, including mimics, and also added reporting functions.
As an option for larger projects, up to 10 Delphin TopMessage Slave Modules could be used as expansion chassis to increase the master unit’s capability up to 1000 hardware/software channels, with all data transfer between master and slave taking place via a CANbus. The slave modules are connected via CANbus to the master with a maximum bus length of 100 meters.
For further information on the Delphin TopMessage Data Acquisition System, other devices in the Delphin product line, details on any other data acquisition and control system, or to find the ideal solution for your application-specific needs, contact TALON Technical Sales at 281-999-8588 or visit the website at www/talon.biz.
Data Logging with Remote UMTS Access in Natural Gas Dehydration Plants
Posted in Application Notes.
– January 26, 2012
An oil company which regularly drills into reserves containing heavy crude oil required an advanced data logging system to monitor their operation. This crude is commonly harvested by drilling a horizontal well into the deposit and injecting steam into it to heat the bitumen and allow it to flow more smoothly. A second horizontal well is then drilled directly below the original to collect the oil and pump it to the surface, an involved process known as Steam Assisted Gravity Drainage (SAGD).
These wells are connected by long pipelines to the refinery itself for processing. Optimizing harvest efficiency is critical given the sheer volume of oil pumped from these reservoirs, requiring a powerful data logging solution to monitor the oil well temperatures. This is needed for both efficiency and safety reasons – any increase in temperature could cause a blowout, while sudden decreases often lead to wasteful pumping inefficiencies. Modem connectivity is therefore a must for connecting these loggers to a central computer for ease of reference.
This particular company decided to install a dataTaker DT85 data logger and 2 Channel Expansion Modules (CEMs) at a central point at the top of the observation well, enclosing them safely inside a NEMA4 industrial enclosure along with a solar power supply and battery. The DT85 is a cost-effective logger expandable to 300 channels with 600 isolated or 900 single-ended analog inputs. The company’s operators can use its built-in web and FTP servers to remotely access logged data, configuration and diagnostics, while Modbus slave and master functionality enables connection to Modbus sensors and devices, and also to SCADA systems. The DT85 also boasts smart serial sensor channels capable of interfacing to a wide range of sensors via serial interfaces, including RS232, RS485, RS422 and SDI-12. Ruggedly designed and constructed, the logger offers reliable operation even under the extreme conditions of the oil wells, and USB memory stick support is included for easy data and program transfers. Advanced alarm capabilities ensure that any increase or decrease in temperatures is detected and reported as they happen, making for a safer work environment.
The DT85 and its CEMs are connected to thermocouples which are located at 30 points down-hole. The dataTaker captures the temperatures and transmits its recorded data via a radio modem to the master unit that correlates the data from several observation wells. To maximize results, the refinery’s operator places thermocouples down-hole at regular intervals. The well’s temperature is now carefully measured and the steam-injection adjusted to meet all parameters needed for optimum oil pumping.
The customer realized several benefits from installing this dataTaker solution, not least of which is the free technical support offered to help dataTaker logger users get up and running. In fact, if the customer needs immediate implementation, the logging system can be provided completely preconfigured for a nominal fee, so the field personnel would be only responsible for connecting the power and sensors and let the DT85 handle the rest. The DT85 has also increased ease of access to the data recorded from the oil wells, storing data in either delimited (CSV) or binary (DBD) formats. The low power cost of the solar panels and battery for this system is another plus. This solution also helps improve accuracy since the DT85 has fully isolated channels that prevent any cross-channel interference. Our customer’s SAGD operations have been enhanced with a minimum of labor and cost.
For more on the DT85 Universal Intelligent Data Logger visit the TALON Technical Sales website (www.talon.biz), email: info@talon.biz or call 281-999-8588.
Sending Data and Alarms via Email on DT8X Data Loggers
Posted in Application Notes.
– January 26, 2012
Bill Lydon has conducted an interview with Eric Byres.
In addition to experience as a process controls engineer, Eric researched and written extensively about Stuxnet and founded the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT) Critical Infrastructure Security Centre, resulting in receipt of the SANS Institute Security Leadership Award in 2006. He is responsible for numerous industrial automation and SCADA cyber security standards and best practices and was formally recognized in Oct 2009 by the International Society of Automation (ISA) as an ISA Fellow. Byres is also chair of the ISA SP-99 Security Technologies Working Group, which is responsible for the standardization of technologies for Industrial Automation and Control System cyber security and the Canadian representative for IEC TC65/WG13, a standards effort focusing on an international framework for the protection of process facilities from cyber attacks. Continued…
Posted in Worms and Threats.
– September 7, 2011
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By Jesse Yoder
1. Multiphase Flowmeters
Posted in Application Notes, Sensors.
– August 9, 2011
