Title : Standardized practices and digital optimization: Enhancing subsea asset management with open BIM and IFC
Abstract:
The Subsea sector of the oil and gas industry faces a critical need for standardized practices to ensure seamless data exchange and interoperability. This article navigates the intricate landscape of global and industry-specific standards, unveiling their indispensable roles in enhancing efficiency, reliability, and sustainability across various phases of Subsea projects. Standards such as ISO 15926, DEXPI, CFIHOS, IEC ISO 81346, IFC, and the foundational ISO 10303 (STEP) establish a common language and framework, promoting consistency and safety in operations. However, it is crucial to highlight that, unlike IFC, these standards have yet to demonstrate immediate applicability to Subsea interconnection projects and installations. Often confined to highly specific software and proprietary standards, their effectiveness is limited in a broader context. Challenges in data exchange, including format conversions, document-based exchanges, and a lack of consensus on reference data, underscore the urgency of standardized specifications. The research investigates the implementation of the Industry Foundation Classes (IFC) standard in the Subsea engineering sector within the OpenBIM methodology. As a proof of concept, a data model for flexible pipe systems was developed through a joint initiative involving Petrobras and TechnipTMC, in collaboration with the CERTI Foundation (an oil and gas research center). This initiative incorporated a domain expansion to characterize the scope of the supply chain and installation, utilizing tools such as IfcOpenShell and BlenderBIM. This article advocates for the transformative potential of the OpenBIM methodology, providing a comprehensive solution to manage Subsea assets by leveraging standardized practices and interoperable platforms. It enhances integrity management and propels the Subsea sector into an era of informed decision-making and digital optimization.
Audience Takeaway Notes:
- The importance of standardized practices in the Subsea industry.
- The transformative potential of the OpenBIM methodology and interoperable platforms in managing Subsea assets through standardized practices.
- The audience will learn how to adapt the use of IFC (Industry Foundation Classes) for application in the Subsea oil and gas industry.
