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AUTOMATION smart technology.

“They changed their work practices during the commission- ing part of the project,” Hokeness said. “They are using the intel- ligence from their devices right away. When they were commis- sioning their valves they turned the alerts to make sure they had suf? cient air pressure and the valves move the way they are supposed to.

Integrating an asset integrity program from the beginning will save Shell “They do that all upfront and that millions of dollars with its Prelude is a change from the past where they

Floating lique? ed natural gas vessel wouldn’t necessarily look at the device which is now undergoing commissioning. until they went online with the project,”

Photos from Shell.

he continued. “They are seeing some northeast of Broome, Western Australia. tremendous savings using the bulk

The facility will then end up moored commissioning tools we collaborated and connected to the undersea infra- on and implemented in the AMS Device structure and the whole production Manager software. If they had 100 pres- system will be commissioned. sure transmitters con? gured the same,

It will remain permanently moored we are now able to push the con? gura- at the location for between 20-25 years tion to them, push the alarm set up to before needing to dock for inspection them and do it all in one go. This new and overhaul. functionality has produced phenomenal

Technologies Shell will use on the savings. It makes sure the smart devices

FLNG facility are ones used success- are consistently con? gured and the right fully onshore, but the company had to alerts are turned on.” adapt or modify some of them in order Shell also worked with the engineer- for the processes, such as liquefaction ing contractors (EPCs) to get them on the and of? oading, to run at sea. same page. “This has never been done before,” “They told me they worked with their said Neil Gilmour, Shell vice president EPCs to change their work practices to

Integrated Gas Development in a pub- use the new tools. That was a step away lished report. “We had to ? nd ways to from how it used to be done. The con- adapt our technology for offshore.” tractor usually does it their own way, “From a smart device perspective, but Shell worked hand in hand with they will be able to monitor the health them on the new strategies.” of all of their Foundation ? eldbus and While the industry is down now, it

FLNG facility will produce at least 5.3 HART devices,” Hokeness said. “They will eventually come back, but will

MTPA of liquids: 3.6 MTPA of LNG, have primarily been using ? eldbus for asset integrity remain a focal point for 1.3 MTPA of condensate (equivalent to their basic control and HART for their users or will it fade away as pro? ts start 35,000 b/d) and 0.4 MTPA of lique? ed safety systems.” to rise?

petroleum gas (LPG). Shell’s FLNG also allows for: “Even when the market does come •

The ? oating facility will chill natural High production rates of up to 6 MTPA back, people will continue to care. We gas produced at the ? eld to -162°C of liquids (including LNG, LPG and have seen increased focus on asset in- (-260°F), shrinking its volume by 600 condensate) tegrity even before the oil and gas mar- • times so it can ship out to customers in A wide range of gas compositions and ket has gone down,” Hokeness said. “It other parts of the world. can export LPG and condensate may be more appreciated now because

An ef? cient double mixed refrigerant there are fewer capital projects. There is

Ocean-going carriers will load the LNG • as well as other liquid by-products (con- liquefaction cycle more focus on reliability and getting the

The ability to stay on station and not most out of what you have.” • densate and LPG) for delivery to market.

The Prelude FLNG facility will be have to be moved during severe weather

Greg Hale is the 488m (1600ft) long, 74m (240ft) wide conditions such as cyclones, which will editor and founder of and along with its contents, will weigh increase the availability of the plant

Industrial Safety and around 600,000-tonne. It will be the

New approach

Security Source largest ? oating offshore facility in the (ISSSource.com) and world. Moving toward an asset integrity pro- is also the contribut-

Once construction is completed gram, Shell had to think about making ing automation editor sometime next year, Shell will tow the some changes and not remaining with at Offshore Engineer.

facility to its location, around 300mi the status quo. That started with using oedigital.com January 2016 | OE 53 052_OE0116_Automation.indd 53 12/24/15 9:15 AM