There are many examples of applications of blown fibre in private networks. This example is for a UK-based oil refinery that has been utilising blown fibre since 1994/5, so the site was one of the first to see the benefits of the technology.

Over the intervening years the network gradually expanded to provide a communication backbone ring from the main data centre around the main refinery with a leg to the shipping berths for the tankers bringing crude oil from around the world to be turned into petrol, diesel, LPG, paraffin and a host of other products.

“What has really made a big difference to us,” explains the plant’s Infrastructure Engineer, “ is that we now have complete control of the activity so we can react very quickly to urgent needs. With the Prysmian Sirocco solution, we have been able to buy equipment so that we can install the fibres ourselves. Previously the refinery employed an installation company based many miles away. Due to the distance involved, any delay to repair would be significant, with downtime at the site potentially costing upwards of 0.5m per day. With this in mind we arranged for Prysmian to send their trainer to the refinery and members of the team can now blow in a new fibre link in less time than it would have taken a contractor to get to the site.”



They also appreciate the flexibility that Sirocco provides. Initial links were provided with multiples of 4 fibre 62.5/125 multimode. With the introduction of the Sirocco 12 fibre, some old fibres have been blown out and replaced with a 12 fibre 50/125 multimode unit releasing tubes for later use. The change in preference for 50/125 was prompted by better performance and cheaper active equipment. The maximum length installed so far in the network was an 880 metre connection to the tanker berths although 1500 metre blows are planned. A 6km link is also planned, using singlemode fibres to a duplicate server farm and further extensions to new buildings as services become located outside the ‘blast zone’ – safety and security are an obvious priority to the company.

One of the most challenging tasks for the infrastructure team is to provide the facilities required during the refinery shutdown which occurs every four years. Communication services need to be supplied to cabins located around the site, with an additional 180 telephones and 290 PCs being required over a 6 week period. It takes 2 weeks just to allow for the refinery cooling process, but when you start with operating temperatures at around 650°C, it’s not surprising. Traditionally, robust, pre-terminated tight-buffered cables would be temporarily placed around the site, often simply laid across the floor and then cut out after use. With a ducted blown fibre tube network in place around the site, Sirocco fibre units can be blown in ready for the influx of contractors and then blown out again when they’ve gone. “When working with an operation like this, the last thing you want is concern about the reliability and efficiency of the communications network.” reflects the Infrastructure Engineer.

 •   Managed flexibility – address normal and urgent demands
 •  Internal, trained staff and purchased equipment provide self-sufficiency
 •  Time-to-Repair in hours not days
 •  Temporary capacity demand surges can be flexibly accommodated
 •  Avoid unnecessary costs



But this is true throughout the year, not just at shutdown time. The blown fibre system is used to provide site security and cameras, data communication, monitoring and metering using hand-held units and will be extended to cover voice using IP telephones. “The Sirocco system has also helped us in managing our budgets and the timeframes we can work under.” For example, some of the contractors used would have a day’s journey to the plant, overnight accommodation and a day’s journey back afterwards. And, because these companies have other customers, the work would typically have to be scheduled 4-6 weeks ahead. With Sirocco, planning times can be shortened and costs can be much lower. There are typically a dozen blown fibre projects on the go at one time to extend, develop, introduce advanced controls and improve the current network. The Sirocco tubing is primarily Direct Install, located inside a 100mm duct which provides the required crush protection and ‘separation’ from any contamination by hydrocarbons. For example, in the lin to the berths, 19-way tube is used and then dropping off to 7 tubes. With a wide range of tube and fibre unit options, they are able to develop their network to suit their current requirements, knowing that their future needs will not be impaired. Even the choice of a 100mm duct leaves them space to add further tubes when and if necessary. As some of the tubes may be in place for months or years before being fibred, the Sirocco Tube Integrity & Length Tester (STILT) is invaluable to check the route before blowing fibre. “Sirocco has made a big difference to the way we can manage our network and respond to normal requirements and urgent changes,” concludes the Infrastructure Engineer, “the key benefit for us is managed flexibility.”