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with supplier The simulators were programmed and was being able to operate all functions products at the con? gured according to the piping and from the BOP control system and verify ? nal stages of a instrumentation diagrams, electrical correct behavior and feedback from the build, in the ? nal schematics, IO-lists (listing instrumen- simulators. Commissioning lasted ? ve

EPIC cycle.” tation input and outputs), and general days.

A non-disclo- arrangement drawings, received from GE The ? rst phase of testing lasted 10 sure agreement Oil & Gas, using Matlab and Simulink. days. If results were unclear, or a party was agreed The simulators can run on standard wanted veri? cation of the observed upfront, and MC laptops. result, re-tests were performed. When presented a list of The majority of the tests are “failure testing was complete, the parties met

Einar Leirvik , necessary docu- tests,” where the control system’s ability before a test result report was issued by operations project manager, at Marine mentation to be to handle failures in various operational MC.

Cybernetics.

able to develop modes is tested. Failures range from “By conducting HIL-testing of the BOP the simulators, sensor and command signal failures to control system all parties have contrib- write the test program and prepare the mechanical failures, or loss of power or uted to increased offshore safety,” Leirvik interfaces to be used between the BOP communication. says. “Co-operation between the stake- control system and the simulators. The functionality of the system was holders is essential and both GE Oil & “We have to do a thorough analysis of also tested by writing “function tests” Gas, Maersk Drilling and Samsung have the system to understand how it works to verify that the system operates in been very supportive.” and how it is built up,” Leirvik says. accordance with its functional descrip- By March 2014, MC has in total signed “When we get this overview we start on tion, operator manuals and so on. Once contracts for 10 BOP’s to be HIL-tested. the process of preparing the test pro- written, the test program was agreed by Several BOP-HIL projects are ongoing gram and the simulators based on the all the parties. now while four projects are already vendor documentation. In this particular A separate team at MC prepared the completed. project we also arranged a workshop hardware and communication drivers, with Maersk Drilling to look into which or interfaces, to be able to communicate

Marine Cybernetics’ (MC) founders areas should be more focused and which between the BOP control system and the saw an opportunity to introduce HIL should have less priority, he says. simulators. On this system, both hard- testing to the maritime and o