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How Visualization Technology Is Maximizing Uptime

2016; Society of Petroleum Engineers; Volume: 68; Issue: 12 Linguagem: Inglês

10.2118/1216-0045-jpt

1944-978X

Chris Carpenter,

Reservoir Engineering and Simulation Methods

This article, written by JPT Technology Editor Chris Carpenter, contains highlights of paper SPE 176810, “How Visualization Technology Is Maximizing Uptime,” by Ruth Christie, Claire Fleming, and Bob Donnelly, SeaEnergy, and Sean Huff, SE Innovation, prepared for the 2015 SPE Middle East Intelligent Oil and Gas Conference and Exhibition, Abu Dhabi, 15–16 September. The paper has not been peer reviewed. This paper will show that visualization technology, particularly spherical photographic visual-asset management (VAM), has positively affected the offshore industry by creating a wide array of efficiencies. Visualization technology has played a key role in reducing operational expenditure (OPEX) and improving collaboration, thus maximizing uptime across the industry throughout the asset life cycle. Introduction Historically, “visualization” for those responsible for topside campaigns has meant relying upon computer-aided-design models created from “as-built” drawings. Unfortunately, the significant drawback of these drawings is that they are rarely kept up to date. As assets now exceed their original life expectancy, thanks to new technologies and engineering practices available to the industry, they often end up being very different than when they were first built. VAM The rise of VAM technology has helped operating companies create efficiencies through better planning and improved operational practices. The technology provides a cost-effective alternative by providing up-to-date and high-quality representations of assets that can be used to plan major campaigns as well as routine tasks. The technology simplifies the complex data held within as-built drawings by providing a visual context that is similar to that which users would see if they were standing on the asset itself. This helps the information held within the drawings, and the information within other systems in use for that asset, to be more easily understood. Spherical photographic VAM technology uses high-quality photographic images to create the ultimate visual representation of the asset, providing a view of the location that is as close to physically being present as possible. The superior quality of the photographs enables users to view at extremely close range the condition, structure, fabric, and content of an asset in a high level of detail.