Effective Maintenance Management Framework Through a Health Index: A Case Study in the Oil and Gas Industry

The oil and gas sector is transforming rapidly, driven by global energy demand and the need to address climate change. Effective maintenance management is critical for ensuring asset reliability and operational safety in this sector, where predictive and proactive strategies replace traditional reactive maintenance practices. This paper introduces a comprehensive health maintenance management framework designed to enhance oil and gas industry maintenance practices. The proposed framework includes six essential stages: asset registration, maintenance strategy selection, capability promotion, maintenance implementation, reporting, and continuous improvement. A key innovation of the framework is using a Health Index (HI), which provides a quantitative and scalable assessment of maintenance management health. This index and its subindices are a benchmarking tool, enabling organisations to compare their performance with their historical or industry standards, proactively prevent equipment failures, and minimise downtime. The framework also supports modern techniques such as condition monitoring, artificial intelligence, and digital twins to optimise maintenance efficiency and sustainability. A case study conducted in a gas processing plant demonstrates the practical application of the HI, revealing trends in maintenance management health over time and highlighting areas for improvement. The findings underscore the value of the HI in guiding decision-making, improving asset management, and supporting predictive maintenance practices. Furthermore, the study outlines how to integrate predictive methods, optimising scheduling and planning for maintenance activities, ultimately boosting asset performance and reducing operational disruptions. This framework offers a structured and dynamic approach to maintenance management, promoting continuous improvement and operational excellence in the oil and gas sector.