Gobal project uses PLM for oil platform

An IBM Product Lifecycle Management Solutions product story

Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team Feb 16, 2006

PLM products drive collaborative design and manufacturing oil platform project that includes China-based shipyard, Norwegian offshore technology company and Brazil's state-run oil company.

PLM products from IBM and Dassault Systemes are driving a multinational collaborative global design and manufacturing oil platform project that includes China-based Yantai Raffles Shipyard, Norwegian offshore technology company Sevan Marine, and Brazil's state-run oil company Petrobras.

The complex Sevan Stabilised Platform (SSP) 300 project, wherein Yantai Raffles builds the Sevan Marine-designed oil platform, uses Catia, Enovia and Delmia from Dassault.

The Yantai-built SSP 300s will be deployed by its customer Petrobras.

Brian Chang, CEO, Yantai Raffles Shipyard, said: "Worldwide industry, not just shipbuilding and energy, is at a critical juncture".

"Some industries, such as aerospace and shipbuilding, are leading the way in using 3D and PLM to transform the way they do business".

"Other industries, from large manufacturers to small- to medium-sized businesses, must adopt this business paradigm or risk failure in today's globally collaborative world".

"PLM can simulate operating conditions, thereby enhancing quality and improving lifetime operations costs".

Citing the transformative power of 3D and PLM at Daratech Plant, a recent energy industry conference held in Houston, USA, Chang outlined an urgent and stirring vision for his own industry and others.

"Manufacturing today essentially uses decades-old processes streamlined with new technology," he said.

"The goal isn't to speed up the old ways of doing things or worry about interoperability and archaic standardisation arguments".

"It's about finding new ways to accomplish sustainable development, adoption of best practices, knowledge reuse and ultimately on-time delivery." Etienne Droit, Executive VP for PLM Sales and Distribution at Dassault, said: "Yantai Raffles and Sevan Marine exemplify the creative thought that 3D and PLM enable".

"3D and v5 PLM fundamentally alter the design-manufacturing business equation, enabling innovation and rapid adaptation to changing market needs and fluctuating market conditions".

"The SSP 300 project is an example of innovation in a market where nearly 80% of all projects experience catastrophic cost overruns and overwhelming delays".

Until recently, the offshore industry opted for retrofitted oil tankers as offshore storage and production facilities.

But a shortage of available tankers available for retrofitting has changed the competitive landscape in the floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) market.

The SSP 300 is a large circular, floating platform used to store and process 300,000 barrels of oil in an on-board processing plant.

The project uses IBM PLM software to facilitate concurrent design engineering and construction.

The tight integration of the v5 architecture enables real-time validation of the FPSO design against analysis requirements and construction processes.

Tom Erik Smedal, Project Manager, PLM Technologies, Sevan Marine, said: "This simultaneous validation of design and manufacturing drastically reduces the revision so common in the energy market".

"Catia v5 has been used in the design process of the SSP and we are moving quickly forward in our design methods by re-engineering this business process for the SSP".

"The widespread deployment of Catia v5, Enovia v5 and Smarteam will dramatically improve our global collaboration".

"We can do a basic design in just one week with a handful of our engineers because v5 PLM reduces conceptual design time by up to 70%".

Simulation of the SSP 300 manufacturing process with Delmia, Dassault's digital manufacturing product, enables the interchange between manufacturing engineers and design engineers.

"3D is the communication medium for business today and tomorrow," said Chang.

"Our young engineers, managers and other executives all see the virtual world as real and are completely comfortable with 3D".

"Seeing a digital model of a ship or a platform before production begins is an unforgettable experience for our customers".

"Offshore and shipyard companies have understood the value that PLM can bring their businesses".

John Porter, VP sales, IBM PLM, said: "They are more reactive to customer demands and have increased customer satisfaction, while reducing product development costs".

"With IBM and Dassault PLM products, the global SSP 300 project team is empowering its product development teams with the right tools to foster sustainable innovation across the entire value chain, and reinforce market leadership".