Tradespace Exploration for Offshore O&G Developments - A Model Based Systems Engineering Approach

Abstract

AbstractThe objective of this paper is to explore the benefits of using the Interactive Epoch-Era Analysis (IEEA) methodology for evaluating architectural changes in a trade space exploration study. In this paper a subsea tieback offshore Brazil will be used as reference case to investigate this premise from a full field development perspective.An automated concept exploration tool is employed. It applies meta-heuristics to generate different offshore facilities concepts with varying building blocks. The interaction between reservoir behavior and facilities design is accounted for, meaning pressure and temperature losses throughout the system are taken into account in each concept differently. These concepts are ranked in terms of economic performance indicators (NPV, IRR, etc.), and each run with a given set of boundary conditions covers what is called an Epoch. This process is iterated for the whole life of field with a set of different boundary conditions, such as commercial aspects ($/bbl, $/MMBtu, market demand) and/or technological maturity aspects (TRL, novel technological concepts), generating what is called an Era. The whole data set is then evaluated in an interactive platform thru the Humans-In-the-Loop (HIL) process.Model Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) is being employed successfully in other engineering fields outside the O&G context such as the aerospace and automotive industries. While digital tools have been identified as a potential key contributor to the future of O&G performance enhancement and further cost reductions, that is yet to be shown. This work intends to provide backing for that argument in one of the potential applications during early concept exploration phases by showing that quick high value assessments following an MBSE approach may be carried out, once significant effort has been put into proper development, verification and validation (V&V) of such digital tools.While integrated models for asset development have long been a subject of interest for O&G operators, the application of Systems Engineering concepts to it has not yet been thoroughly explored. Systems Engineering provides a rigorous and proven method of dealing with complex systems that is highly applicable to offshore field developments. MBSE is the current State of the Art for capital intensive projects such as space exploration spacecrafts and rovers. Learning from these successful use cases and applying these methodologies in the development of digital technologies may provide a new set of tools in the belt of O&G operators Facilities Engineers and alike. The study case presented shows MBSE’s capability of capturing intrinsic non-linearities and specificities of each O&G field/location while ensuring project wide functional requirements are successfully met.