OTC 2021: Bridging the Gap Between Gas Turbine OEMs and End-users

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Current approaches to in-service risk management for equipment assets in oil and gas facilities focus on early identification of potential faults—often by applying proprietary cloud-based analytics solutions to raw data streams. These applications have been effective in helping end-users reduce OPEX and optimize performance. However, for complex rotating assets, such as gas turbines, they are not a direct replacement for original equipment manufacturer (OEM) expertise or engineering know-how. 

To maximize the predictive window, gas turbine end-users need the ability to identify and address risks before they become potential faults. Unfortunately, many offshore operators do not have this capability. It can only be derived through decades of real-world operating experience across a fleet comprised of hundreds or even thousands of units. 

Historically, gas turbine OEMs have been reluctant to openly share their internal fleet-level risk data with customers. None have gone so far as to make it accessible in the form of a user-friendly visualization platform. Siemens Energy set out to change that with the development of MyFleetRisk.

Increasing data transparency

MyFleetRisk is a digital platform created in response to several oil and gas operators’ requests to support a more efficient allocation of OPEX. It leverages OEM engineering expertise and operating experience to identify and prioritize risk across a customers’ fleet. To our knowledge, it is the first time that a gas turbine OEM has provided transparency of internal frame-based risk data directly to customers to support their operations. 

Risk visualizations are delivered via a web-accessible cloud-based platform that forms the basis of a highly collaborative approach between the OEM and the end-user. The platform provides an asset hierarchy-based navigation designed to help users understand risks at a unit, plant, site, or fleet level. In addition, solutions for addressing specific risks are provided via links—formalizing both calculated and experiential decision-making into an impactful, easy-to-use, digital service.

Opening up new ways of working

MyFleetRisk is not meant to replace digital condition monitoring approaches but rather as a compliment that provides a contiguous means to address the upstream segment of the P-F curve by putting OEM expertise and know-how at the fingertips of end-users. 

Its primary objective is to address failures before they are initiated, providing actionable risk insights so that operators can proactively manage key disrupting factors across their fleet—with the result being a reduction in unplanned downtime. In addition, avoiding unnecessary trips and consequential flaring, fuel venting and compressor depressurizations also enables operators to directly reduce their carbon footprint in key near-term target areas. 

The platform can be an effective tool for closing the skills gap and facilitating knowledge and competency retention across an organization. Both have become critical issues with the industry’s departure of experienced personnel. 

MyFleetRisk is a recipient of OTC’s 2021 Spotlight on New Technology (SONT) award.