Abstract
Over the last decade in Western Australia (WA) several mega Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG)
mega-projects totaling in excess of $100 billion in value have been constructed and now
entering their operational phase. However, low productivity levels contributed to significant
increases in their capital expenditure (CAPEX). In particular, the Electrical, Instrumentation
and Control Systems (EICS) information ‘as-built’ documentation provided at ‘hand-over’ for
commencement of the operational phase does not often reflect what has been actually installed.
As a result, this can adversely impact productivity and operational expenditure as well
jeopardize the asset’s integrity. Traditional paper based methods such as Computer-AidedDesign
(CAD) have been relied upon to create asset information for ‘hand-over’. A reliance
on the use of CAD to document for EICS (e.g., specifications, and ‘as-built’) increases the
propensity for errors, omissions and information redundancy. Attending to issues of this nature
during the construction of the asset can result in scope changes, losses in productivity, and
increases in project costs. This paper presents preliminary observations from a research project
that is examining the nature of EICS documentation provided at ‘hand-over’ for the operation
mega LNG projects. Using a case study, the ‘as-built’ documentation for a domestic gas
metering, which formed an integral part of an LNG plant’s production process is examined.
Issues hindering productivity during the production of the documentation, communication and
information exchanges, and change management involved with the deliver of the EICS are
presented. In addressing problems identified in the case study, it is suggested that if LNG plants
are to make headway to being ‘future-proofed’, then their EICS should be digitized (i.e.
process of converting information into a digital format) using a Systems Information Model
(SIM). The use of SIM to ensure effective and efficient production and management of EICS
information throughout an LNG asset’s lifecycle, and will contribute towards safeguarding its
integrity.
mega-projects totaling in excess of $100 billion in value have been constructed and now
entering their operational phase. However, low productivity levels contributed to significant
increases in their capital expenditure (CAPEX). In particular, the Electrical, Instrumentation
and Control Systems (EICS) information ‘as-built’ documentation provided at ‘hand-over’ for
commencement of the operational phase does not often reflect what has been actually installed.
As a result, this can adversely impact productivity and operational expenditure as well
jeopardize the asset’s integrity. Traditional paper based methods such as Computer-AidedDesign
(CAD) have been relied upon to create asset information for ‘hand-over’. A reliance
on the use of CAD to document for EICS (e.g., specifications, and ‘as-built’) increases the
propensity for errors, omissions and information redundancy. Attending to issues of this nature
during the construction of the asset can result in scope changes, losses in productivity, and
increases in project costs. This paper presents preliminary observations from a research project
that is examining the nature of EICS documentation provided at ‘hand-over’ for the operation
mega LNG projects. Using a case study, the ‘as-built’ documentation for a domestic gas
metering, which formed an integral part of an LNG plant’s production process is examined.
Issues hindering productivity during the production of the documentation, communication and
information exchanges, and change management involved with the deliver of the EICS are
presented. In addressing problems identified in the case study, it is suggested that if LNG plants
are to make headway to being ‘future-proofed’, then their EICS should be digitized (i.e.
process of converting information into a digital format) using a Systems Information Model
(SIM). The use of SIM to ensure effective and efficient production and management of EICS
information throughout an LNG asset’s lifecycle, and will contribute towards safeguarding its
integrity.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | Proceedings of the EPOC-MW Conference, Engineering Project Organization Society |
| Editors | A Mahalingam, IIT Madras, T Shealy, Virginia Tech, Nuno Gil |
| Pages | 1-22 |
| Publication status | Published - Jun 2017 |
| Event | Engineering Project Organization Conference (EPOC) 2017 held in conjunction with the 5th International Megaprojects Workshop: Theory meets Practice - Stanford Sierra Camp, Lake Tahoe, United States Duration: 5 Jun 2017 → 7 Jun 2017 http://www.epossociety.org/EPOC2017/ (EPOC-MW 2017 Conference website) http://www.epossociety.org/EPOC2017/authors2.htm (Proceedings) |
Conference
| Conference | Engineering Project Organization Conference (EPOC) 2017 held in conjunction with the 5th International Megaprojects Workshop |
|---|---|
| Abbreviated title | EPOC-MW 2017 |
| Country/Territory | United States |
| City | Lake Tahoe |
| Period | 5/06/17 → 7/06/17 |
| Other | In 2017, two overlapping communities of scholars - The Engineering Project Organization Society and the Fifth Megaprojects Workshop - have agreed to combine their strengths and resources into a unique event- the EPOC-MW 2017 conference from June 6-8 near San Francisco. We aim to make EPOC-MW 2017 a unique conference that will bring together scholars and practitioners from different research traditions including engineering design, project management, innovation, and organizations. Attendees will have the opportunity to present research findings, have in-depth exchanges on emerging research, and network at the highest-level of the academic community. Our shared system-level goal is to further our collective understanding of engineering projects as a form of organizing. In so doing, we aim to advance the debate on organizational mechanisms necessary to design and govern these enterprises, and how and to what extent their performance can be traced back to organizing. |
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