Integrated Online Monitoring of Piping Loops with Predictive Solutions Applied During Project Execution

Abstract The Integrated ‘Online Monitoring of Piping Loops with Predictive Solutions’ is a new technology that enables digital integration of project piping data with end-to-end tracking of each piping loop, system and unit completion in real time. The system enables transparent visualization of critical piping parameters and provides actionable insights to project engineers in an online interactive dashboard. It thus eliminates the days spent on spreadsheet analysis in conventional mode. The piping loop calculations and workflow are coded to formulate the predictive algorithms, hosted in a cloud-based platform for implementation. The system assimilates the current data from multiple sources and then the algorithms generate updated reports on work progress, constraints and completion trends. Online material hold-up report acts as a ready reckoner for fast-track decision making on procurement action and prioritizes material allocation. Computation of probabilistic loop-system-unit and overall project completion date provides proactive approach to evaluate the work performance with attributable reasons. The innovation has resulted in better adherence to the project critical path through extensive monitoring of piping loop data, starting form material availability to readiness of piping systems for unit startup. There has been considerable saving in time for information flow, resources and man-days spent during project execution. As per the case study done, there has been a saving of nearly two-third man-days, exclusively for the monitoring and control of piping works. The results reaped in the implementation of this technology are encouraging and paves its way for implementation in other refinery and petrochemical projects involving piping works. With implementation of this technology, projects shall be executed with a difference, particularly the critical piping works, at a faster pace that will benefit petroleum industry companies directly. All stakeholders in the project shall be well connected with the work status and garner benefits in terms of superior project performance, improved predictability and project closure within schedule & cost or even better.