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TECHNOLOGY

system not only provides enhanced awareness to Over the last several years, field implementations
the control room operator, but also facilitates an in- of digitized solutions have helped to quantify ex-
tegrated workflow management that spans across pected digitization benefits. Observations from re-
two interdependent domains of the plant. Such cent Schneider Electric global Oil & Gas industry
convergence is moving the Oil & Gas industry from digitization projects have shown:
a simple automaton of processes and equipment
mindset to a more holistic approach that improves • $5-10 Million USD direct savings on a
the bottom line. typical $1 Billion CapEx project – These
savings resulted from a 20% direct savings on
Digital twins, on the other hand, are digital models an Electrical & Instrumentation (E&I) package
of a physical assets that mimic design specifica- and a 10 to 20% savings on a power gene-
tions and engineering models, detailing asset ma- ration solution generated from lower cable
terials, components and behavior. A digital twin’s expense and smaller footprint requirements.
power is that it allows stakeholders to observe the In all, a 3-5% direct and indirect savings on
physical asset’s behavior without actually spending the total CapEx was achieved. Rapid project
money to build it, and then improves the overall delivery, accelerated by weeks, and quick
design by iterating through different operating con- start-up assured a more rapid payback on the
ditions. The digital twin model in operation phase investment.
learns to predict future operations from past and
present operating conditions and guides opera- • $2-4 Million annual OpEx and uptime sa-
tors towards optimally efficient and safe plant. This vings – These savings which represent 4-8%
knowledge is incredibly powerful because it ena- in OpEx savings, reflected the combination of
bles problems to be identified before they occur, raw material cost reductions, and energy, la-
resulting in safer, more efficient and more profitable bor, and maintenance savings.
operations.

The digital twin incorporates the specific asset’s
unique integrated data and operational data. This Conclusion
results in a more efficient evaluation of the current Break-even cost is an important beacon of profi-
and future capabilities of the asset from design to tability when analyzing capital-intensive projects
operations and optimization throughout its lifecycle. involving upstream Oil & Gas industry drilling and
Tools such as digital twins help stakeholders for- extraction investments. The ability to lower the bre-
mulate the most efficient design and operations of ak-even point in an environment of pricing volatility
their assets. will depend on the potential to drive up operational
and process efficiencies.

For Oil & Gas companies, deployment of digitiza-
tion technologies such as advanced analytics, in-
tegrated process and power management (IPPM),
and digital twin will modernize operations, drive
efficiencies and improve break-even cost of pro-
duction in several ways. These newer technologies
lower overall capital expenditures while increa-
sing process efficiency and reducing maintenance
costs.

For those organizations ready to undertake the
journey towards deploying more advanced digital
technologies, a number of short-term actions are
recommended:
• Within the next month – Identify initial ope-
rational areas within the enterprise that can
benefit from the better capture and analysis of
big data. Begin to seek out vendors that have
emerged as leaders in the digital solution mar-
ketplace.

• Within the next 6 months – Secure funding
for those projects that represent low risk and
high return. During this time, begin to assem-
ble a team of interested stakeholders.
• Within the next year – Implement a pilot

44 44 Impiantistica Italiana - Maggio-Giugno 2020