The Need for Systems Awareness to Support Early-Phase Decision-Making—A Study from the Norwegian Energy Industry

Siv Engen,Gerrit Muller,Kristin Falk

doi:10.3390/systems9030047

Abstract

In this paper, we explore the need to improve systems awareness to support early-phase decision-making. This research uses the Norwegian energy industry as context. This industry deals with highly complex engineering systems that shall operate remotely for 25+ years. Through an in-depth study in a systems supplier company, we find that engineers are not sufficiently aware of the systems operational context and do not focus on the context in the early phase. We identified the lack of a holistic mindset and the challenge of balancing internal strategy and customers’ needs as the prevalent barriers. To support the concept evaluation, the subsea system suppliers need to raise systems awareness in the early phase. The study identifies four aspects that are important to consider when developing and implementing approaches to improve systems awareness in the early phase.

Highlights

An oil and gas field development is a complex system development with many constituent systems and actors
We consider the awareness of system context, operational scenarios, and key drivers
There is a need to improve the focus on system context and operational scenarios to improve the understanding of the long-term impact of the decisions

Summary

Introduction

An oil and gas field development is a complex system development with many constituent systems and actors. In the early phases of an oil and gas field development, the subsea systems suppliers develop and propose system concepts for the field on behalf of the oil companies. Based on these concepts, the suppliers commit to cost and schedule. From 2000–2014, the industry had its golden age, and the incomes from the sector contributed to 12% of the country‘s Gross Domestic Product [11] In this period, operators developed a high number of new fields at the Norwegian Continental Shelf. In 2014, the oil price dropped significantly, and the oil and gas industry globally went through a downturn. We highlight three shifts that have significantly changed the industry:

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