Control and Safety System (ESD, FG and PCS) Obsolescence, a Practical Solution for System Migration Taking Account of Aging Facilities While Maintaining Safety Standards

摘要

This paper will describe, through an actual project experience, adopted methodology, which has been developed through close cooperation between Operator and system designer, to enable migration of obsolete Emergency Shutdown System, Fire &Gas Protection System and Process Control Systems to latest generation equipment, while avoiding production downtime, by live transfer and minimal uninterrupted production during migration process.This type of system migration is taking place on Northern North Sea offshore facilities, and has proven to be cost effective in what normally would be an expensive transfer operation, during extended shutdown periods.This system has been developed with the original equipment manufacturer to enable live transfers and have manageable downgraded safety during the transfer period. The benefits included no planned loss of production during the transfer of old to new systems, re-use of existing system footprints, wiring, marshalling and operating Philosophy. System migration can be phased to suit other parallel planned works, and even re-phased if operational constraints dictate. The paper will describe an actual live project which has utilised this technology and methodology, and has enabled the operator to manage major fabric maintenance and modifications in parallel with control system migration.The paper will go further in describing and concluding the tangible benefits, success stories, lessons learnt, and safety records, on an actual live project.