Configuring PAC Alarms

Note: You require the appropriate permissions to view/edit the following screens.

Alarms are based on sensor values. When a sensor value rises or lowers beyond a set threshold, an alarm is triggered which can be routed to various stakeholders.

The sensor value is mapped to a register in an RTU associated with the PAC device.

Some alarm systems in Zedi Access (e.g., alarms for Smart-Alek Field Instruments) are 'Server' alarm-based. That is, the alarms are generated based on calculations performed on the Zedi Access server. PAC alarms are not 'Server' alarms. PAC alarms are Remote alarms. PAC alarms are exception based. You can 'clear' (acknowledge) the alarm on Zedi Access, but the alarm condition still exists. Manually clearing an alarm generates an event in the Event Log, removes the alarm notifications, and cancels further attempts to contact designated recipients. However, the sensor remains in an alarm condition until the Reset Level is reached.

High-High and Low-Low level alarms are indicated with red dots in the Well Tree and the Well Site Data Display box.

Sensors

Alarms are based on sensor readings that are defined in the Site Settings window in Zedi Access. Before you can alarm on a sensor, the sensor must exist.

To edit sensor definitions:

1. In Zedi Access, select the site to edit in the Well Tree.
2. The site is displayed on the right side of the page.
3. Click Site on the Well Site Toolbar.
4. The Site Settings window opens.
5. Click the Sensor tab.
6. Click Edit on the sensor to configure.
7. In the Edit Sensor window:
• Enable Remote Alarms - Check to use Remote Alarms (High-High and Low-Low alarms) with this PAC configuration.
• Enter other parameters as directed.

Configuring the alarm

Once sensors have been associated with a site, you can set up alarms to activate based on the sensor value, using the Configure Alarm tab in the Configure Alarm window in Zedi Access.

Note: You do not need to set all levels. Simply check the appropriate Enable this checkbox if you want that alarm configured.

Once you enter a value for “Hysteresis”, the reset levels will automatically be entered. You can disable the hysteresis by entering zero in the “Hysteresis” field. If you do this, the set and reset levels will be the same. However, the alarm will reset when values are just below the high/ high high level or just above the low/low low level.

The device will report to the server when reset levels are reached. High and Low alarms automatically reset. The High and Low yellow alarm indicator dots automatically revert to green. High High and Low Low alarms must be manually cleared (acknowledged).

Note: Do not use the ESD High High or the ESD Low Low.

1. Select a PAC2/PAC4 device.
2. Click a sensor.
3. If this is a new device, and no alarm configuration has been set, both "Set level" and "Reset level" values are all default values reading from database. Hysteresis value is automatic calculated by "high set level" minus "High reset level."
4. When setting up the alarm configuration, note the following :
• High High Set Level The level at which the high high alarm event triggers. This is displayed in red in the wellsite display box and in the well tree. This option is only available if you are configuring a remote alarm. You will not see it if you are configuring a server alarm.
• High High Reset Level The level at which the high high alarm event is cleared. When you enter a value for “Hysteresis”, the reset level automatically adjusts. This option is only available if you are configuring a remote alarm. You will not see it if you are configuring a server alarm.
• High Set Level The level at which the high alarm event triggers. This is displayed in yellow in the wellsite display box and in the well tree.
• High Level Reset The level at which the high alarm event clears. If you are configuring a server alarm, you need to enter a reset level. If you are configuring a remote alarm, entering a value for “Hysteresis” automatically fills in this field.
• Low Set Level The level at which the low alarm event triggers. This is displayed in yellow in the wellsite display box and in the well tree.
• Low Reset Level The level at which the low alarm event clears. If you are configuring a server alarm, you need to enter a reset level. If you are configuring a remote alarm, entering a value for “Hysteresis” automatically fills in this field.
• Low Low Set Level The level at which the low low alarm event triggers. This is displayed in red in the wellsite display box and in the well tree. This option is only available if you are configuring a remote alarm. You will not see it if you are configuring a server alarm.
• Low Low Reset Level The level at which the low low alarm event is cleared. When you enter a value for “Hysteresis”, the reset level automatically adjusts. This option is only available if you are configuring a remote alarm.
• Hysteresis Determines the alarm level resets. For example, if you set the hysteresis at “5”, the alarm will not reset until values are 5 below high and high high set points or 5 above low and low low set points. This field is not available if you are configuring a server alarm.
• All textboxes under "Reset Level" are read-only. Values in them will be automatically calculated while changing values in "Set Level" column and Hysteresis.
• Functions used for calculation:
• High High Reset Level Value = Set Level Value – Hysteresis
• High Reset Level Value = Set Level Value – Hysteresis
• Low Reset Level Value = Set Level Value + Hysteresis
• Low Low Reset Level Value = Set Level Value + Hysteresis
• Hysteresis value could be zero.
• Contact - Choose the appropriate radio button for your needs. The “User” button is selected most often.
• User - Depending on the contact radio button selected, choose a user, group or contact schedule from the drop-down box.
• Alarm Message - Information can be sent in the alarm message as well as plain text. If you want a text message sent to your SMS device, it is important that the message contains only the most important data. Not only is the cost higher for SMS messages, but there is also a size limit to what you can receive. Message formats are:
• #FLD-Field Name
• #MAX-Alarm Maximum
• #SDS-Smart-Alek Name
• #SN-Smart-Alek Serial Number
• #AMT-Reading Amount #VALUE [equivalent to #AMT]
• #SEN-Sensor Name
• #TIM-Time and Date
• #MIN-Alarm Minimum
• #ERR-High or Low #LOC-Well Location
• #WELL-equivalent to #LOC
• #HIERARCHY
• Maximum Retry Choose the number of times you want the alarm to be sent to the alarm contact.
• Retry Interval Choose a time interval for the retry.
• Test Clicking this button will send a test message to your selected alarm recipient via email or SMS.
• Click Save to save the configuration.

If the sensor is set to "Enable Remote Alarm", an alarm configuration message will be sent to PAC-Bridge while the configuration settings are being saved to Database.