Drilling technology, including the control network, has become more integrated and more complex. Failures in this critical area have the potential to cause a systems-wide domino effect that cannot be identified by a single vendor. When problems are not found until the asset is in commissioning or in production, project delays, health, safety and environmental (HSE) incidents, and NPT result. An FMECA is a proven step-by-step approach to identifying and mitigating risk sooner in the newbuild or refurbishment cycle. It is designed to:

• Identify potential single point failures in the drilling control networks
• Determine the possible effects or consequences of those failures on operations, e.g. non-productive time, equipment damage and safety issues
• Score the criticality of each failure according to its probability of occurrence and its potential impact
• Provide an Issues, Action Items and Recommendations Report to help you develop remediation and mitigation plans

How We're Different

1. Our focus on the control network is unique. We have documented our experience over the years with many common equipment combinations and integration points. This knowledge base is available to all of our consultants, enabling them to more rapidly and accurately identify potential failures and recommend effective mitigations.
2. Our consultants are effective communicators and project managers; they are well versed in effective reporting, meeting facilitation, vendor management, and knowledge transfer practices.
3. Athens Group Proven Practices for FMECA go beyond the traditional “as-planned” design FMECA to provide an “as-built” Operational FMECA process. Based on US Military and IEC standards for FMECA, the Athens Group operational FMECA makes it possible to include both the users (Drilling Operations) and the designers (Equipment Vendors) in the process. As a result:
   • There is no need to guess about functionality or response, it can be determined from direct experiential feedback from the drillers and rig technicians
   • Operating and maintenance processes can be developed or improved to mitigate identified risks
   • Equipment operators and support personnel are better informed about the function of control network components, and better prepared to respond to failures that may occur

Failure Point Example *

An FMECA revealed that the failure of a PLC controlling the HVAC for the driller’s cabin would cause an automatic shutdown of the entire drilling control network once positive pressure was lost in the LIR, and that operations (the drillers) were not aware of the seriousness of the alarm. Athens Group recommended that the visibility and priority of the alarm be increased, and that operational procedures be revised to start well control procedures immediately if the alarm was triggered.