Digital Energy Journal- Can we be more flexible?

Join | Existing Member Login

You are Home » News » View Article

Can we be more flexible?

Thursday, February 21, 2013

Do we design facilities assuming that we know more than we do, asks Andrew Gibson

Andrew Gibson,research manager at MARINTEK, a research company in the SINTEF Group which does research and development
in marine technology, said that we would have a better results if we accept our lack of knowledge about what will happen in future, and designing more flexible facilities, so they are better able to cope with what the future might throw at us.

Are we sure 'nothing is going to change? Or should we be thinking about slightly more flexible field developments?' he asked.

There are plenty of examples in history, where the finest engineers were sure they knew exactly what to do, and then the passage of time proved them wrong, he said.

People had carefully thought out construction and drilling plans, and suddenly had to change them when drilling went differently to how it was expected.

Experts were surprised in Oman in 2000, when the country suddenly found oil production had peaked.

Experts were surprised in the year 2000, when a car company increased use of electronic systems in cars. 'They knew exactly what they had to do [but went on to have] immense problems with reliability for the next 3,4,5 years.'

Associated Companies
» Integrated Operations (Trondheim) conference

CREATE A FREE MEMBERSHIP

To attend our free events, receive our newsletter, and receive the free colour Digital Energy Journal.