Ensuring Uninterrupted Flow Of Information
This is the fourth blog in our five-part series about challenges in the oil and gas industry, wherein we tackle the following five problems facing EPC operational efficiency:
- Keeping everyone safe during SIMOPS.
- Keeping projects on time and under budget.
- Making informed decisions throughout the entire project lifecycle.
- Ensuring uninterrupted flow of information.
- Keeping an eye on the whole project with accurate information.
THE PROBLEM: ENSURING UNINTERRUPTED FLOW OF INFORMATION
With different teams and personnel responsible for the various project aspects – engineering design versus materials logistics, for example – it’s easy for essential information to not transfer between disciplines.
The same goes for each and every project phase from construction to commissioning to handover. Ensuring updated project status, asset specifications and archival information accurately and completely conveys from one phase to the next is riddled with pinch points under traditional management systems.
During construction, commissioning and handover, the aim is to have 100 percent control of all project components throughout the full project lifecycle. Continuity of information, or lack thereof as is more often the case, poses one of the biggest headaches for EPC contractors and owner-operators, particularly during completions and handovers.
Interrupted flow of information, which is what happens when using paper-based systems and manual processes, makes accessing updated, accurate and comprehensive project details extremely difficult. This impedes decision making. It compromises timeline, budget and even increases occupational health and safety risk.
Without a centralized system to rely on as a one-stop shop for information and updates, the burden shifts to employees. Time is a limited resource, and running around collating information by request, piecing together details from various project components, draws resources away from the tasks at hand.
Information flows, when mismanaged, impede efficiency, budget and overall project success. It is imperative that information flows transparently, accurately and completely between project components and throughout all phases.
WHAT ARE COMPLETIONS?
Completions refers to the final project phase wherein the EPC contractor hands the facility and/or asset(s) over to the owner-operator. It’s not as simple as walking away from completed, tested and commissioned works, however, because archival project information must be passed along as well.
Owner-operators require comprehensive records, from specifications to testing to compliance, which creates a notorious headache for contractors who scramble to piece together relevant information.
Digital software solutions, including specialized Completions and Handover options, exist on the Cloud, which means that real-time project information is accessible for anyone, anywhere with internet access.
Flexible search and navigation options cater to users through such web-based solutions. Materials, components and jobs can be quickly identified by things such as location, tags, item numbers, technical data and current status.
All project and asset information are easily updated, shared, and accessed instantaneously from anywhere in the world using any common web browser.
Web-based software designed to minimize the person-hours required to setup and maintain execution schedules. The time savings means that personnel can shift their focus where it belongs: safety, performance and efficiency.
Check out the original blog for solutions and more on the value of centralizing data.
This article first appeared on MODS Energy Industry Blog https://blog.mods.solutions/overcoming-challenges-in-the-oil-and-gas-industry-completions
Are you interested in integrating digital solutions in your organization? Contact us and talk with our Completions Specialist for more information.