What type of system is an oil engineer likely to use for managing process automation on a single site?

An oil engineer managing process automation on a single site is most likely to use a Distributed Control System (DCS). A DCS is designed to efficiently control complex processes that are often spread over a large area within a single site. It allows for localized control over various operations in oil and gas facilities, facilitating the management of multiple processes concurrently.

DCS offers advantages such as robustness and reliability, as it employs redundant systems to ensure continuous operation, which is vital in critical environments like oil engineering. It enables integrated control, data acquisition, and monitoring across different subsystems, providing the engineer with comprehensive insights and oversight of the entire operation.

In contrast, while Industrial Control Systems (ICS) encompass a wider range of controls, SCADA systems are typically used for remote monitoring and control over large geographical areas and multiple sites, and Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs) are more suited for specific control tasks rather than holistic process management on a large scale. Thus, for a singular site focused on managing complex processes, a DCS is the most appropriate choice.