Collaboration presents digital twins for the oil and gas industry

TechnipFMC and DNV GL are collaborating to develop the oil and gas industry’s first methodology for qualifying the integrity of digital twin technology, aiming to help oil and gas operators, supply chain partners and regulators trust the concept of digital twins for performance and safety decision-making in projects and operations.

A digital twin digitally replicates physical assets that can be used for various purposes. This digital representation provides the elements and the dynamics of how an Internet of Things (IoT) device operates and lives throughout its life cycle.

According to DNV GL, digital twins will provide many benefits to the oil and gas sector as the foundation for asset design and operation. The digital twin technology will help operators get a better insight into the behaviour of the asset and assist them on decision-making procedures, concerning operational conditions.

In light of the collaboration, Julie Cranga, Vice President, Subsea Digital, TechnipFMC stated

Digital twin technology results in quicker, better asset design, improved project delivery efficiency, and operation safety and performance during the whole asset life. As more digital twins enter the oil and gas sector, it is key for operators to know that their twin works as planned, and that its output is reliable. Our collaboration with DNV GL aims to address this

Moreover, the digital twin technology qualification methodology will be trialled on a subsea field development project delivered by TechnipFMC, in early 2020. Both partners plant to publish the project as a recommended practice during the second half of next year.

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Liv A. Hovem, CEO, DNV GL – Oil & Gas added

The major challenge with implementing new digital technologies in the oil and gas industry today is the same as when novel hardware technologies were introduced two decades ago. How can you trust that it works when the technology hasn’t been used before?

Overall, some areas for potential improvements that can be calculated by a digital twin are:

Optimal operation of machinery systems.
Optimal retrofit of batteries, more efficient thrusters, bulb etc.
Performing hull or propeller cleaning.
Verify ship performance on a detailed level. Visualise the effect of design choices and changes.
Benchmarking performance towards other vessels in the fleet.