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Automation

Gaining more visibility into what is hap- pening in the process not only allows for

Using asset integrity greater asset usability and less unplanned downtime, but also a safer environment.

With over 6700 platforms in operation to enhance the bottom line around the world, at least 30% have been in operation for more than 20 years –

Gregory Hale discusses how

To get more out of what they had, they proper context throughout the organi- working way beyond their original design. felt predictive and proactive monitoring zation in order to best use the skills of That means operators have to make sure operators can get more out of of the process and equipment health was specialists in improving business process an asset can perform its required function their current assets, and add paramount. Instead, though, they had and decision-making effciency? effectively, safely and productively. more to the bottom line.

islands of monitoring systems. “The platform had standalone per- Add to that industry averages suggest

The operator needed to focus on the formance monitoring, electrical health 5% of production capacity is lost each sustainable performance of the organiza- ystems on a platform foating in the monitoring, their condition monitoring year due to unplanned downtime and in tion and on boosting economic viability. middle of the ocean were running for vibration, diagnostics information for a down market those numbers can add

S

Faced with the enormity of technical, the same way it had been from smart devices,” said Bart Winters, product up. More than any other reason, equip- regulatory and competitive challenges oil the heady days of oil coming in at over director for asset management solutions at ment failures are the most common cul- and gas producers need to ask: US$100/bbl. Honeywell Process Solutions. “What they prit. When you combine this with fewer

How can the organization optimize pro- Those days, however, are gone and wanted to do is to effectively monitor and people and money, keeping the operation • duction from assets with fewer on- and looking like they will not be back for a assess the health of the systems on the running can be daunting.

offshore personnel? while, if ever, so the operator knew they platform remotely to bring it in to a cen- “Producers need to look at three main

How can shut-ins and interventions needed to remain proftable, they had to tral overarching monitoring environment.” areas: Get the most out the assets running • caused by equipment failures and other squeeze as much out of their technology While those standalone monitoring today, a relentless focus on safety and abnormal conditions end up predicted to cut costs, reduce the human footprint systems worked individually, they were take advantage of operational improve- and prevented? and increase the ability to visualize the just not effcient in getting relevant infor- ments in operations,” O’Brien said.

•

How can critical optimization data equipment on the platform. mation in the hands of the right people Three other areas to boost operational be made available to key personnel in Engineers knew what they had to do. to make quick, real-time decisions. In a integrity include: • down market where profts remain tight, Better connectivity between assets • operators need to get the most out of Real-time analytics capabilities getting every single asset. That is why the time is smarter • right to create a smarter environment to Allow for greater and smarter work get the biggest return on producing assets environments and collaboration “There is increased complexity in the while ensuring a safe environment. equipment we are monitoring and the “Production for the most part is up, but processes and the time to respond to infor- producers are planning on oil prices stay- mation to make decisions,” Winters said. ing low,” said Dan O’Brien, global director “Another challenge we see is the aging of production management at Honeywell workforce and the skills shortage. There

Process Solutions. “They are going to is more demand for remotely hosting and survive and maintain proftability by providing support for facilities remotely increasing production effciency and cost with subject matter experts. We see a lot of savings. The game changer is software and frefghting instead of proactive optimiza- technology, which is going to derive so tion and proactive or predictive mainte- much (information) in the next few years nance. Instead of planning effectively, we for production effciency and cost savings.

Asset optimization has multiple data points to pull information to every part of the enterprise. All images from Honeywell.

see a lot of emergency work, which means

Software driven technologies matter.”

December 2015 | OE oedigital.com 58 058_OE1215_Automation.indd 58 11/20/15 5:28 PM