Downstream Industry Application: Satellite Technologies, Satellites, Companies, Patents, and Use Cases

Satellite technology is a key enabler for digital transformation, operational efficiency, and safety in the downstream oil & gas sector (refining, distribution, retail). Here is a structured overview of relevant technologies, satellite systems, companies, notable patents, and practical use cases:

Technology/Application	Satellite/System Name	Company (Patent Holder)	Patent/Reference	Description & Use Case
Refinery Monitoring & Automation	BGAN (L-band, GEO)	Inmarsat	Proprietary	Real-time M2M connectivity for process control, predictive maintenance, and safety monitoring in refineries1.
Asset Tracking & Logistics	Globalstar (LEO), OneWeb (LEO)	Globalstar, Eutelsat OneWeb	Proprietary	Satellite-enabled asset tracking for tankers, trucks, and railcars, improving supply chain visibility and reducing losses28.
Remote Video Surveillance	Various (VSAT, LEO/GEO)	Avanti, SES, Inmarsat	Proprietary	Live video feeds for security, perimeter monitoring, and incident response at refineries and fuel depots23.
Environmental & Emissions Monitoring	Sentinel (EO, LEO), PlanetScope	ESA, Planet Labs	Various	Satellite EO for monitoring refinery emissions, flaring, and compliance with environmental regulations5.
Retail Network Connectivity	HYLAS (Ka-band, GEO), VSAT	Avanti, Inmarsat	Proprietary	Secure, reliable connectivity for fuel station POS, inventory, and remote management, including IoT integration13.
Crew Welfare & Corporate Comms	HYLAS (Ka-band, GEO), OneWeb (LEO)	Avanti, Eutelsat OneWeb	Proprietary	High-speed internet and communications for staff at remote terminals, depots, and refineries, supporting morale and training38.
Dynamic Bandwidth Management	HYLAS (Ka-band, GEO)	Avanti	Proprietary	Network dynamically allocates bandwidth for mission-critical applications (e.g., safety, automation, video)3.
Subsea Production Satellite System	Subsea Satellite System	Mobil Oil Corp.	US3401746A (1965/1995)	Remotely operated subsea satellite for gathering, monitoring, and boosting product to shore or floating production4.
IIoT-Enabled Refinery Operations	O3b mPOWER (MEO), VSAT	SES, Inmarsat	Proprietary	Real-time data from sensors for process optimization, energy management, and predictive maintenance6.
Water Breakthrough Detection	N/A (Downstream Monitoring)	Abu Dhabi National Oil Company	US12110788B2 (2024)	Patent for simultaneous monitoring of water breakthrough at centralized downstream locations using chemical tracers7.

Highlighted Use Cases

• Refinery Monitoring & Automation:Inmarsat’s BGAN M2M service provides robust, always-on connectivity for refinery control systems, enabling predictive maintenance, process optimization, and safety alerts even in harsh environments1.

• Asset Tracking & Logistics:Shell used Globalstar’s satellite network to track movable assets, reducing management time and cost, and improving supply chain efficiency with rapid ROI2.

• Remote Video Surveillance:Avanti and SES enable real-time video monitoring of refineries and terminals, supporting security, incident response, and compliance3.

• Environmental & Emissions Monitoring:ESA’s Sentinel satellites and Planet Labs’ PlanetScope provide high-frequency EO data for emission tracking, flaring events, and environmental compliance reporting5.

• Retail Network Connectivity:Avanti’s Ka-band and Inmarsat’s L-band solutions connect fuel stations and retail outlets, supporting POS, IoT, and secure data transfer for inventory and pricing13.

• Crew Welfare & Corporate Communications:High-speed satellite internet from Avanti and OneWeb supports remote staff with video calls, e-learning, and morale-boosting connectivity38.

• Dynamic Bandwidth Management:Avanti’s network dynamically prioritizes bandwidth for critical downstream applications, ensuring reliability during demand spikes3.

• Subsea Production Satellite System:Mobil Oil’s patented system (US3401746A) enables remote monitoring, separation, and boosting of oil/gas from subsea wells to downstream facilities, with maintenance possible at the surface without disconnecting flowlines4.

• IIoT-Enabled Refinery Operations:SES’s O3b mPOWER MEO satellites provide fiber-like low-latency connectivity for real-time analytics, cloud integration, and IIoT-driven process optimization in downstream plants6.

• Water Breakthrough Detection:Abu Dhabi National Oil Company’s patent (US12110788B2) covers a method for detecting and monitoring water breakthrough at downstream sites using chemical tracers, improving efficiency and reducing risk7.

Key Satellites & Companies

Satellite/System	Company	Patent/Reference
BGAN (L-band, GEO)	Inmarsat	Proprietary
HYLAS (Ka-band, GEO)	Avanti Communications	Proprietary
O3b mPOWER (MEO)	SES	Proprietary
Globalstar (LEO)	Globalstar	Proprietary
OneWeb (LEO)	Eutelsat OneWeb	Proprietary
Sentinel (EO, LEO)	ESA	Various
PlanetScope (EO, LEO)	Planet Labs	Proprietary
Subsea Satellite System	Mobil Oil Corp.	US3401746A

Summary:Satellite technologies in the downstream oil & gas sector enable real-time monitoring, automation, logistics, safety, environmental compliance, and staff welfare. Leading companies like Inmarsat, Avanti, SES, Globalstar, Eutelsat OneWeb, and others provide the backbone for digital transformation, operational efficiency, and risk reduction through patented and proprietary solutions tailored for downstream applications12345678.

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Citations:

1. https://www.inmarsat.com/content/dam/inmarsat/corporate/documents/enterprise/insights/Inmarsat_WP_Connected_Oil_and_Gas.pdf

2. https://interactive.satellitetoday.com/in-the-oil-and-gas-recovery-satellite-will-rise/

3. https://www.avanti.space/industry/oil-and-gas/

4. https://patents.google.com/patent/US3401746A/en

5. https://commercialisation.esa.int/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Oil_and_gas_report_230907.pdf

6. https://www.ses.com/sites/default/files/2020-04/IIoT_Enabled_transform_oilfield_IDO_1DEC18_DEF.pdf

7. https://patents.justia.com/assignee/abu-dhabi-national-oil-company

8. https://oneweb.net/solutions/land-mobility/oil-and-gas-solution

9. https://getglobalgroup.com/digital-transformation-in-downstream-oil-gas-uae/

10. https://www.strategyand.pwc.com/m1/en/reports/2019/digitizing-downstream-operations.html

11. https://wyldnetworks.com/blog/satellite-iot-for-transformingdata-capture-oil-and-gas

12. https://ispatialtec.com/blogs/geospatial-ai-oil-and-gas-digital-transformation/

13. https://spaceoneers.io/company-categories/satellites-downstream/

14. https://www.digi.com/blog/post/iot-in-oil-and-gas

15. https://www.idirect.net/blog/satcoms-for-enterprise-oil-and-gas/

16. https://www.iotforall.com/iot-applications-oil-and-gas-industry

17. https://www.eni.com/en-IT/strategic-vision/satellite-model.html

18. https://patents.google.com/patent/US20110071963A1/fr

19. https://appinventiv.com/blog/artificial-intelligence-in-oil-and-gas-industry/

20. https://blog.networkinnovations.com/downstream-iot-where-refinery-meets-the-road