OTC 2023: Industry coalition announces suite of FPSO-related digital solutions

May 1, 2023
SLB, Rockwell Automation Inc., Sensia LLC, and Cognite say they will work to accelerate the evolution of FPSO facilities.

Offshore staff

HOUSTON SLB, Rockwell Automation Inc., Sensia LLC, and Cognite announced a collaboration on the first day of OTC 2023 that will work to accelerate the evolution of the offshore industry’s floating production storage and offloading (FPSO) facilities.

Digital capabilities developed by the four-company coalition will be designed to improve the reliability, availability, safety and efficiency of both existing and newbuild FPSO vessels while lowering the carbon footprint of their offshore operations, the companies said.

“Global energy demand continues to increase, and every part of the value chain is evolving to improve production and reduce emissions,” said Steve Gassen, president, Production Systems, SLB. “As digital performance integrators, the power of this coalition comes from our collective knowledge, expertise, and belief that open collaboration will accelerate innovation and decarbonization. SLB will bring advanced digital solutions, subsurface domain expertise, and complex integration and project management capabilities to scale up efficiencies and lower the carbon footprint of operations across every stage of the FPSO life cycle.”

The companies said that the coalition integrates the entire data life cycle with targeted automation, analytics, simulation and visualization capabilities to enhance efficiencies in FPSO performance. They added that this will result in optimized equipment utilization and energy consumption, improved safety, reduced risks of equipment failure and unplanned downtime, plus better-informed strategic decision making.

“As the leading OEM module automation supplier, Rockwell brings to the coalition its expertise in control and safety systems for FPSOs, as well as extensive experience in power systems,” said Frank Kulaszewicz, senior vice president, Lifecycle Services, Rockwell Automation. “We’ll be complementing the advanced digital solution portfolio of the coalition, as well as bringing network and cybersecurity capabilities to the team.”

SLB says that it has been awarded a contract to develop and implement a control system and dynamic process simulation solution for Petrobras. This strategic multipurpose dynamic simulation (MPDS) solution is being developed in partnership with Inprocess Technology and Consulting Group, a worldwide leader in MPDS, and Sensia, the leading control system and automation specialist in oil and gas.

The MPDS solution will leverage SLB’s expertise as an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) and in offshore construction and operations to provide an immersive digital twin environment to dynamically simulate operational processes and their control and automation systems, train personnel, and strengthen safety elements at five new FPSO units to be installed in Búzios field in the Santos basin.

For more information, visit SLB at OTC booth 2415.

05.01.2023