Integrated Production Model Research Articles

Horizontal and vertical integration of product data for the design of moulded interconnect devices

In this paper, a methodology for the vertical and the horizontal integration of product data fitted to the needs of Moulded Interconnect Devices (3D-MID) is presented. For that purpose, an integrated product model based on STEP and the feature technology is developed. The application objects and schemas of STEP AP210 are used and extended to support the horizontal collaboration between electronic and mechanical design. Special attention is paid to the description of the three-dimensional structure of the circuit carrier and the circuit traces running within it and on its surface. In addition, the integrated product model also supports the hierarchical collaboration between upstream MID design and downstream simulation and manufacturing. Based on this product model, an effective communication between MID design in MIDCAD and the simulation of the injection moulding process in MOLDFLOW and manufacturing utilising MID-specific automatic placement equipment could be established.

Customer-driven product design and evaluation method for collaborative design environments

Product concept generation and evaluation in a product development environment has been identified as the two major activities needed for obtaining an optimal design scheme. Product conceptual design is of critical importance in design through customer involvement for the systematic and simultaneous consideration on the impact of design decisions on manufacturing and assembly leads to repeated and excessive changes in design and processes. This paper introduces a novel knowledge support approach for the organization and ranking of design feature knowledge towards an integrated product model that incorporates a feature-based representation scheme targeted to evaluate the impact of design on subsequent activities in the conceptual design phase, taking into account the presence of design information and user preferences. An uncertain linguistic multi-attribute decision-making evaluation model is proposed and discussed for obtaining an optimal design scheme during the evaluation and selection of product design alternatives in conceptual design. The focus of this paper is on the development of a knowledge-intensive support design scheme and a comprehensive systematic fuzzy evaluation methodology for product conceptual design generation, evaluation, and selection. A case study and the corresponding scenario of knowledge support for design alternatives generation, evaluation and selection are provided for illustration.

Reconstruction automatique des entités d’un modèle BREP à partir d’un maillage déformé

Nowadays, the integration of the different steps of mechanical design process (Design, analysis and manufacturing) is a necessity to reduce the time of design and optimization. This tendency of integrating CAD/CAM/Analysis and automation of the corresponding processes requires shared data between the various tasks using an integrated product model. Our research is oriented to CAD/CAM/Analysis integration by rebuilding the CAD model (BREP) starting from the FE results (deformed mesh). This paper presents techniques for rebuilding the geometrical and topological entities of the CAD model starting from a deformed mesh.

Efficient Conceptual Design of an Offshore Gas-Gathering Network

This article, written by Technology Editor Dennis Denney, contains highlights of paper SPE 116593, "Efficient Conceptual Design of an Offshore Gas-Gathering Network," by M.J. Watson, SPE, N.J. Hawkes, P.F. Pickering, SPE, Feesa, and L.D. Brown, ConocoPhillips, prepared for the 2008 SPE Asia Pacific Oil & Gas Conference and Exhibition, Perth, Australia, 20-22 October. The paper has not been peer reviewed. Offshore gas-gathering networks require large capital investments in wells, subsea equipment, pipelines, and compression systems. A thermal/hydraulic integrated-production model (IPM) was used to evaluate many design options for such systems. IPM calculations were performed to establish the phasing of drilling, field development, and compression necessary to sustain required gas-delivery rates. Introduction Conceptual design in the upstream industry can confirm if a project concept is economically feasible and then directs later design stages toward an optimal design. Many options must be analyzed to find workable solutions and highlight the potential of new technologies. With new developments in harsher environments and with fluid properties becoming more difficult, the possible use of a traditional tieback solution decreases and the need for new technologies increases. Consequently, a multidisciplinary approach to concept design is beneficial because disciplines such as drilling, flow-assurance, process, and corrosion engineering may influence feasibility as much as traditional subsurface factors. The difficulty is keeping the disciplines aligned with each other. This is particularly difficult during conceptual design when the rate of change is usually at its greatest. The system of interest is a large gas-gathering network with multiple drill centers. Although common, these fields are in a region with extreme ambient-temperature conditions where the annual window for drilling is comparatively short. A key objective was to investigate the development plan for offshore facilities within which the drilling schedule could be "stretched out" while maintaining the required gas-production rates. The model for this study is shown in Fig. 1. It consists of eight small gas reservoirs (DC-1 through DC-8), individually tied back to an offshore processing and compression facility on a larger reservoir (the Hub), which is approximately 150 km from an onshore processing facility. Production commences with wells at the Hub. When production from the Hub field declines below the capacity of the processing facility, satellite fields are brought on successively. When compression is required, the wells are switched from a high-pressure (HP) to a low-pressure (LP) manifold in a manner to meet production targets and minimize compression horsepower.

An Adaptive E-Commerce Architecture for Enterprise Information Exchange

This article contributes to the design of a generic framework for providing a new way to exchange information between enterprises. This concept is a well addressed in the context of B2B standards. Many organizations are increasingly searching for adopting these standards to automate data exchange. But the limit of such models resides in the fact that the content of exchange is defined in several formats which make their use difficult. To overcome this difficulty, we have explored the possibility to integrate new models for describing content involved in B2B transaction which represent a key issue. Our finding establishes the feasibility of integrating product models described by ontology with e-commerce standards especially at the business process level. This article presents a descriptive model allowing partners to exchange information with other organisations without modifying their Information System. The case study also indicates that our system is developed as a Service Oriented Architecture.

Technology Focus: Artificial Lift (July 2008)

Technology Focus Artificial lift plays a fundamental role in several international plays. This month, artificial lift in oil-sand and deepwater developments is highlighted. In both cases, artificial lift is not just accelerating production but is vital to the economic success of the overall development. Today, the Canadian oil-sand developments have followed these different approaches: mining, cyclic steam injection, and steam-assisted gravity drainage (SAGD). As reservoir depth increases, artificial lift, rather than mining, is used to bring hydrocarbons to the surface. While cyclic steam injection and SAGD both push the high-temperature envelope for pumping, new techniques are being proved for this harsh environment. During the production phase of cyclic steam injection, the wells initially flow to the surface. Later production moves into the "flumping" stage (simultaneous flowing and pumping) and then into pumping. While sucker-rod pumping has been dominant, progressing-cavity pumps and electrical submersible pumps (ESPs) are being proved under these extreme conditions. In addition to downhole pumping, there is widespread use of surface multiphase pumps. Technologies that allow pumping high-temperature fluids without cooling represent opportunities to retain heat and improve the overall process efficiency. Surface pumping of a high-temperature multiphase mixture has become an established technology in Alberta. For deep water, artificial lift plays a strategic role, enabling companies that possess advanced technology to develop fields that other companies may determine to be too difficult. The ability to deliver an advanced artificial-lift system is the difference between booking reserves and walking away from deepwater discoveries. Only recently have we seen rapid growth in the application of subsea multiphase pumping. In addition to seafloor boosting, several other artificial-lift methods are applied in deep water, including gas lift and wellbore ESPs. In all cases, the ultimate success of these developments depends on the reliability of the artificial-lift system combined with the cost of intervention. Artificial Lift additional reading available at the SPE eLibrary: www.spe.org SPE 113904 • "Recent Advances and Practical Applications of Integrated Production Modeling at Jack Asset in Deepwater Gulf of Mexico" by Umut Ozdogan, Chevron Energy Technology Company, et al. IPTC 11594 • "A New Approach to Gas Lift Optimization Using an Integrated Asset Model" by Fernando Gutierrez, Schlumberger, et al. SPE 110234 • "Overview of Beam-Pump Operations" by O. Lynn Rowlan, Echometer Company, et al. Additional reading available at OnePetro: www.onepetro.org OTC 18820 • "The Use of Subsea Gas Lift in Deepwater Applications" by Subash S. Jayawardena, Shell Global Solutions, et al. (See JPT June, 2008, page 64.)

Constructing design representations using a sortal approach

Supporting the early phases of design requires, among others, support for the specification and use of multiple and evolving representations, and for the exchange of information between these representations. We consider a complex adaptive system as a model for the development of design representations, and present a semi-constructive algebraic formalism for design representations, termed sorts, as a candidate for supporting this approach. We analyze sorts with respect to the requirements of a complex adaptive system and compare it to other representational formalisms that consider a constructive approach to representations. We demonstrate the advantages of sorts in various examples, illustrate its use to support the specification of design queries and the recognition of emergent information, and consider sorts in relationship to integrated product models.

Supporting Lifecycle Management of Product Data by Organized Descriptions and Behavior Definitions of Engineering Objects

Engineering for design, analysis, and manufacturing planning of products has been integrated with other product related engineering activities such as control of manufacturing equipment, marketing, sales and customer services in product lifecycle management systems (PLM). This challenging complex of activities would be impossible without the support of recent information technology (IT). Descriptions of various engineering objects have been integrated into very complex product models. Main area of development in the next future is enhanced assistance of decisions in product modeling. Approach to high level of modeling and application of the highly integrated product model for simulation will be the virtual intelligent space where all outside and inside effects are reacted. In order to join this tendency, this paper introduces a methodology for integrated application of analysis of behaviors of modeled objects, adaptive actions for controlled modifications of engineering objects, and definition of optimal sets of parameters. In order to establish a virtual intelligent space, sensor signals in physical intelligent space are replaced by received change information and actuators are replaced by adaptive actions. In this paper, new concept of intelligent virtual product space (IVPS) as integrated description of physical product and other objects and processes is introduced. Following this, a method is proposed to include computational intelligence in product models in the form of control of behaviors of modeled product objects. Change management methods are explained in close connection with behavior analysis. Finally, some methods for control of the work of a virtual intelligent product space are detailed.

Integrating Manufacturing and Life Cycle Information Into the Product Model

The power of the integrated product model can be extended well beyond the mere definition of geometry, and this extension offers significant benefits to shipbuilders. The nature of computer-aided design/manufacturing (CAD/CAM) data allows use of arbitrarily extensible linked databases, which can contain any other information that might be useful for manufacture, production engineering, procurement, and even maintenance and operation of the ship throughout its life cycle.

Building a project ontology with extreme collaboration and virtual design and construction

This paper defines the concept of the ‘tripod’ method of design that uses VDC modeling (multi-disciplinary performance-based virtual design and construction modeling), an integrated POP model (a formal and integrated model of Product, Organization and Process of the project) and Extreme Collaboration (a very rapid concurrent and technologically enabled social process of design). The paper focuses in particular on the generic ontology of the POP model, which specifies the related functional requirements, designed forms and predicted, observed and desired behaviors of the defined POP elements. With collateral drawings, models, analyses and explanations, the project specific POP model becomes the schematic and initial detailed design for the project. We describe use of the tripod method for the preliminary design of a large commercial building project. While large generic building project ontologies exist, e.g. the Industry Foundation Classes, we find that our ontology is so simple that teams using any design tools and methods can use it today, and it is helpful. We interpret our results as early evidence that the Tripod engineering process of VDC, Extreme Collaboration and use of a generic POP ontology together enable a design team to build a new integrated multidisciplinary project design model very rapidly. It can then be used to support downstream detailed design and construction planning and also reuse in other engineering projects.

CATEGORY APPRAISAL WITHIN A LIMITED PRODUCT RANGE: A METHODS‐ORIENTED CASE HISTORY

ABSTRACTThis paper presents the author's approach to synthesizing useful direction from product testing when the stimuli are not systematically varied. The approach presented here comprises a research design and data analysis strategy, rather than a conventional product optimization with subsequent validation. The design steps comprise stimulus selection, attribute selection, and product evaluation. The data analysis comprises univariate modeling to show how sensory attributes drive overall liking, reduction of the matrix to factor scores for multivariate modeling, and then the creation of an integrated product model. The outcome is a set of factor scores that can be translated to sensory attributes and in turn to target products.

An integrated location, production, distribution and investment model for a multinational corporation

We present a mixed integer linear formulation that extends published models on multinational corporation facility location decisions by including exogenous variables such as exchange rates and tariff rates and incorporating production, distribution, and investment decisions. The model provides insights on production levels; facility configurations, distribution strategies and levels of investment needed at these facilities and explores factors that influence the facility's configuration decisions. Several scenarios are considered based on various facility configurations and levels of exchange and tariff rates. The results obtained from these show that the model's performance and results are in complete agreement with accepted economic theories.

Integrated Product Modelling of Special Forms in Vessel and Pipeline Construction

The launch of efficient parametric CAx‐systems and a constant engineering data management system are the current objectives of many enterprises. Investigations of a number of commercial CAD systems and their sheet metal tools showed that two weak points needed to be eliminated, they had to be compensated for in the field of the sheet metal design. In view of the application, three major tasks had to be solved: layout of suitable construction and geometry features, balancing of weaknesses of the CAD systems for the attention of differential‐geometrical boundary conditions with the generation of rule surfaces, and the development of special forms of the sheet metal tools in the CAD systems.

Case History: Field Development Design Using A Risk-Based Integrated Production Model

Technology Today Series articles are general, descriptive representations that summarize the state of the art in an area of technology by describing recent developments for readers who are not specialists in the topics discussed. Written by individuals recognized as experts in the area, these articles provide key references to more definitive work and present specific details only to illustrate the technology. Purpose: to inform the general readership of recent advances in various areas of petroleum engineering. Abstract A risk-based integrated production model (RIPM) was used to guide development of an offshore volatile-oil field and a retrograde-condensate-gas field. Strategic decisions regarding facility alternatives and well completion design were analyzed in light of uncertainties in reservoir size and performance by use of a systems approach. Key parameters and business drivers were identified to focus the technical work on important development decisions. The RIPM enabled making decisions and evaluating a large number of options under a "fast-track" mandate in which relatively little data existed. The RIPM analysis was facilitated with predictions from technical tools for reservoir performance and completion design. Field results to date have validated this decision-making approach. Introduction This paper presents a case history in which the RIPM approach1,2 provided the ability to make key early decisions with relatively little data while evaluating a large number of options in light of reservoir uncertainties. The process continued through the entire project timeline from strategic front-end infrastructure design, development execution, and initial operation of a hydrocarbon asset. The asset is a recently discovered, relatively small offshore volatile-oil and retrograde-condensate-gas field. The small reservoir size dictated that project economic success was crucially linked to the proper integration and optimization of each subsystem (reservoir, wells, and facility) component. With a traditional approach to development planning, the reservoir engineer would commonly make estimations of the reserves in place and formation parameters (e.g., pressure and permeability), then hand them off to the completions engineer to size production tubing and determine flow rates. Then, the facilities engineers would be given the assumed production profiles to design the facilities. This approach severely limits any ability to optimize the project interactively between the engineering disciplines or to investigate the effect of changes in any one part of the system with corresponding effects elsewhere in the system (e.g., reserve size, tubing size, completion technique, or various facility options). The RIPM process combines the benefits of an integrated systems analysis and quantitative risk analysis to guide strategic decision-making in the design, implementation, and operation phases of reservoir management. Details of the concepts and benefits of the RIPM process and tools1 and high-level application examples2 have been presented. For this case, the integrated production model (IPM) tool was key for quickly evaluating the effect of different subsystem options on the value delivered by the overall system. A risk-based IPM (i.e., RIPM) tool was needed to quantify the effects of a number of uncertainties on the project's overall value to facilitate strategic decision-making. The RIPM methodology was used throughout the asset's development. For the purposes of this paper, discussions will be directed at two phases of the project - the front-end strategic design/decision phase and the development operation phase - in which initial data was acquired and analyzed to validate the approach and decisions made. Front-End Design and Strategic Decisions Initially, the field was identified as amplitude events from 3D seismic analysis. Two primary structures exist on two offshore blocks separated by three miles. Reservoir depths range from 10,000 to 13,000 ft. Initial reservoir pressure was roughly 10,200 psi, and formation temperature was 260°F. The seismic amplitude maps indicate three likely reservoir compartments on the western structure and one on the eastern structure. Considerable uncertainty existed in delineating actual reservoir boundaries and thickness from seismic, as well as extent of reservoir connectivity within an amplitude event. As a result of the desire to fast-track project development, many important, consequential decisions had to be made with very limited data. At the point that facility decisions were made, two successful exploration wells were drilled and tested on two stratigraphic accumulations. The fluid system was characterized as a volatile oil on the eastern structure and a retrograde condensate on the western structure based on data from the exploration wells. Excellent productivity resulted from permeability on the order of 10 to 100 md. Good-quality seismic data in the area and nearby discoveries led to very high confidence in finding hydrocarbons. The more difficult question concerned whether reserves were sufficient to justify setting the facilities needed for development.

STEP-Based Multiview Integrated Product Modelling for Concurrent Engineering

The demand for high-quality and low-cost products with a short development time for the dynamic global market has forced researchers and industries to focus on various effective product development strategies. Product modelling has been recognised as one of the key factors in determining the success of various product development strategies and for industrial competitiveness now and in the future. This paper proposes a methodology that represents multiview integrated product modelling based on the outcome of a research project on ISO 10303 STEP. The methodology consists of the architecture and information requirements for an integrated product model and a mapping mechanism for the multiview operations of the model, which support product development in a concurrent engineering environment. This methodology will facilitate further research in developing sophisticated product modelling for concurrent product development.

Integrated Production Model in Agile Manufacturing Systems

This work aims at finding a production model for manufacturers to apply in continuously and unanticipated changing competitive environments.

Virtual Technology Based Associative Integration of Modeling of Mechanical Parts

Advanced application of powerful computer tools at engineering design of advanced products related activities means creating integrated product models in advanced computer systems. Leading application oriented master model concepts and standards as STEP serve this purpose. Engineers are working simultaneously on product design. Results of engineering decisions are analyzed for loads, aesthetics and manufacturability. Product design, results of analyses, processes of manufacturing of parts and much more are described in integrated product model. This model is accessed by several engineers simultaneously and is communicated with other engineering design environments. Because most of prototype development activities are being moved into computer systems, advanced modeling is often cited as virtual pro-, totyping. This paper summarizes and relates some advanced modeling approaches and methods to emphasize main trends in fulfilling demands for modeling tools in the early 21th century. As one of the key issues a manufacturing process model associative with form feature based part model is introduced. This model was proposed by the authors. The motivation is that low level integration of design and manufacturing of mechanical parts is still a main drawback of efficient application of expensive modeling systems. The proposed method ’allows for creating part models simultaneously with their analysis of machineability. In this paper chapter 2 outlines the scene of modeling based decision making of engineers as well as levels of product model creation. Chapter 3 explains the prevailing modeling principles, while chapter 4 emphasizes structure descriptions. In chapter 5 the proposed associative, Petri net model representation based manufacturing process modeling and its potential applications are explained are detailed. Two additional key subject areas are discussed in chapter 6 and chapter 7, namely effects of globalization on modeling and product data management. The main aspect of discussion is model and communication based group work of engineers.

9.1.5 Using distributed database queries and composable mediators to support requirements analysis

AbstractRequirements analysis in a modern development environment needs to take into account product information at all stages of development. An integrated product model is used to describe the data used through the development process in form of different kinds of models and to capture the relationships between them. Due to its diverse nature, this information is usually stored in distributed and heterogeneous information systems. To support the task of requirements analysis, a distributed data integration architecture called composable mediators is proposed. Composable mediators are a multidatabase system consisting of distributed autonomous object oriented (OO) mediator servers defined in terms of other mediator servers. The complexity of the information model describing requirements data is addressed by the use of OO queries. The distribution and diversity of the data involved is addressed by accessing it through a distributed mediator system. This approach allows not only all related distributed data to be accessible in a timely manner without any changes to existing systems, but also for new information to be extracted from the available product requirements related data.

A feature-based approach towards an integrated product model including conceptual design information

Due to the highly complex and informal data that has to be managed in the conceptual design this early design phase still lacks of suitable computer support. Furthermore, existing approaches towards a computer aided conceptual design are insufficiently integrated with the downstream applications of the product development process. The paper therefore introduces an approach towards a feature-based integrated product model that incorporates a feature-based representation scheme for capturing product semantics handled in the conceptual design phase and links early design with part and assembly modelling.

Managing Risks Using Integrated Production Models: Applications

This paper presents applications of an asset-management analysis process that helps quantify and manage uncertainty to aid strategic decision-making over the life of a field. The dynamic and iterative nature of the process and tools allows for rapid, quantitative systems analysis of the impact of a wide number of options with their associated uncertainty The result is a robust method to understand the risks and potential value of the prospective enterprise on an ongoing basis through development, operation, and expansion phases. Application of the process over the entire life cycle of an asset is discussed and illustrated with two case histories.