As Build Maintenance

Value added document control and drafting tasks keep your business moving forward, but they not sexy or glossy, and their isn't a big trophy waiting for you after a large maintenance or standardization project. What companies too often don't understand is that these functions can save them an enormous amount of money over time.

For this example I want to look at CORE drawings for a multi-well tie in pad.   For those of you not familiar with CORE drawings, they are the drawings that are used most often by the operations, maintenance, engineering, risk and regulatory groups. The package includes but is not limited to: Plot Plans w/ all undergrounds, Piping & Instrumentation Diagrams, Line Lists, Equipment & Instrument Lists, Area Classification, selected Electrical drawings, Regulatory and Measurement Schematics. The CORE Drawing package (when in a as-built state) represents the physical and operational philosophy of a facility – these will be the documents most reviewed, and asked for in an event such as a sale of property, in the event of litigation for product spills or other such disasters.  

The common standard within the oil and gas industry right now seems to be a cyclical as-build process.   This cyclic process sees departments complete as-builds when needed (i.e. regulatory compliance or property sale), then they are lost or destroyed due to poor maintenance practices, and once again when needed the as-builds are completed. This process results in elevated costs because all of the accumulated redlines are assembled and integrated into the completed as-built set of drawings. This type of as-building program several issues other then the high cost – a highly trained team of several disciplined staff will require all pertinent safety training prior to entering your facility – an operations representative and perhaps a company or contract electrician will be required to be on hand – the greatest danger however is that you have workers onsite in a very dangerous work environment for extended periods of time even if the time frame is only 10-15 days.   On average this type of as-build costs $150,000 each time it is needed, which is on average is every 5 years.  Now over the lifetime of a 30 year facility that adds up to approximately $900,000, and many facilities can run for 40 - 50 years.

Alternatively, to maintain these drawings on an ongoing basis (i.e. keep up to date, store within an electronic drawing management system) you are looking at a cost of $500 per year.  Using our 30 year facility we are looking at a lifetime cost of $150,000.  With an ongoing maintenance process you should be continually updating as-build drawings as changes occur through the use of an MOC program. This  will ensure that correct, accurate information is current and available for reference by all user groups – history shows that this process of updating CORE is relatively inexpensive and ensures all crucial information is current – although this program ensures up to date accurate information, a well oiled process must be followed – this process is demanding on the tight time constraints of involved staff members.

If you are able to save your company $750,000, in my opinion you deserve the big trophy!